# Accident 20200714016669A: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Ft.Yukon, AK, July 14, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 14, 2020, 15:53 local time
- Place: Ft.Yukon, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 65.9910° N, 144.5447° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.9910&lon=-144.5447&mi=10
- Aircraft: N80166, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80166) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-802A (registry code 0390308, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67F (registry code 52290, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-67f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200714016669A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT, WHO IS ALSO A MECHANIC WITH INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION, CONDUCTED 27 PREVIOUS LANDINGS IN THE SAME LOCATION WITH NO INCIDENT.

AFTER LANDING ON THE WATERWAY DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED AN UNCOMMANDED HARD RIGHT TURN. THE PILOT APPLIED REVERSE THRUST AND FULL OPPOSITE RUDDER TO COUNTER THIS, HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT ENDED UP BEACHING ON A SHORE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

THERE WERE 2 OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THIS N NUMBER AIRCRAFT PREVIOUSLY, ONE WITH THE SAME PILOT AND ONE WITH OTHER PILOT. THE NTSB CONDUCTED AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION WITH NO CAUSAL CONCLUSION. THE AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN SENT TO THE MANUFACTURE FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS OF THE LEFT SCOOPER CUP AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM EXTENSION/RETRACTION.  IT IS SPECULATED THAT A MALFUNCTION OF THE EXTENSION/RETRACTION SYSTEM MAY HAVE CAUSED THE SUDDEN, ASYMMETRICAL YAW THAT LED TO THIS ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC20LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA069), Jul 14, 2020: Air Tractor AT802 (N80166), Birch Creek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of control for undetermined reasons while on the surface of the water during scoop operations in support of wildland firefighting operations.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.