20230424003379A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Air Tractor AT-402A · Cullman, AL · April 24, 2023

Date: April 24, 2023 · 09:00 local
Place: Cullman, AL
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: PTSG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N623LA
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA23LA215
Reported as: Air Tractor AT-402A
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,950 total522 in this make and model75 in the last 90 days

N623LARegistered now · Air Tractor AT-402AS/N 402A-1127 · Built 2000 Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-402A Engine modelPratt & Whitney PT6A seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft landed on private airstrip for the pupose of aerial application. At touchdown, the trailing edge chemical application boom aft of the right wing snagged the wheat crop that was along the edge of the airstrip. Pilot was unable to overcome the right hand swerve/groundloop. Airplane sustained substantial damage to the rear fuselage, empennage, and tail gear.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT LANDED ON PRIVATE AIRSTRIP FOR THE PUPOSE OF AERIAL APPLICATION. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE TRAILING EDGE CHEMICAL APPLICATION BOOM AFT OF THE RIGHT WING SNAGGED THE WHEAT CROP THAT WAS ALONG THE EDGE OF THE AIRSTRIP. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO OVERCOME THE RIGHT HAND SWERVE/GROUNDLOOP. AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE REAR FUSELAGE, EMPENNAGE, AND TAIL GEAR.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA23LA215Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportGood Hope, ALThe pilot’s decision to land on a runway where there was insufficient clearance from obstructions (wheat crop) to operate safely.Apr 24, 2023 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N623LA · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20150404003849IManeuver · Brickeys, AROn April 4, 2015 at 1430 cd, an Air tractor AT-402A registered to taylor Air service inc. lost elevator control while performing aerial applications. Following the release of fertilizer, the airman added power for his climb and turn, the aircraft pitched up…Apr 4, 2015 · Minor damage