# Accident 20230714008869A: Air Tractor Inc AT-802, Benson, MN, July 14, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 14, 2023, 16:30 local time
- Place: Benson, MN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 5BFG
- Location: 45.1009° N, 95.5424° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1009&lon=-95.5424&mi=10
- Aircraft: N22FK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22FK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-802 (registry code 0390305, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67AG (registry code 52211, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-67ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-67AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 7,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA311) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230714008869A

## Narrative

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

WHILE APPLYING PESTICIDE TO A FIELD THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK 2 POWER LINES. THE PIC DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING ABNORMAL WITH THE AIRCRAFT, SO HE CONTINUED SPRAYING UNTIL EMPTY THEN RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT. AFTER SHUTDOWN THE PIC INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND NOTICED A NICK IN THE PROP, MISSING VORTEX GENERATORS (VG’S) AND A DAMAGED DELTA WING ON THE RIGHT WING. THE PIC CONTINUED SPRAY OPERATIONS BEFORE FLYING APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES TO HIS HOME AIRPORT. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE PIC CONTINUED 137 SPRAY OPERATIONS FOR SEVERAL HOURS. TWO DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE MECHANIC THAT MAINTAINS THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMED AN INSPECTION AND FOUND A DAMAGED AILERON. AFTER DISCOVERING THE DAMAGE, THE MECHANIC TOLD THE PIC THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT AIRWORTHY AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED PRIOR TO FURTHER FLIGHT. SIX DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT FINDING DAMAGE INCLUDING A 12 INCH CUT IN THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE RIGHT AILERON, VISIBLE DENTS AND PAINT CRACKING IN THE TOP OF THE RIGHT AILERON, 7 MISSING VG’S, 4 DAMAGED VG’S, DAMAGED DELTA WING, MULTIPLE DENTS ON LEADING EDGES OF BOTH WINGS, BENT PROPELLER TIP THAT HAD BEEN STRAIGHTENED, LARGE NICK IN PROPELLER BLADE THAT HAD BEEN RECENTLY DRESSED, AND SIGNS OF ELECTRICAL ARCING ON PROPELLER BLADE. ENGINE HAD BEEN DISASSEMBLED AND POWER SECTION SENT OUT FOR PROP SUDDEN STOPPAGE INSPECTION.

## 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 CEN23LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA311), Jul 14, 2023: Air Tractor AT-802 (N22FK), Benson, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to adequately survey a field for obstructions prior to a low-level aerial application pass, which resulted in an impact with a powerline. Contributing to the accident was the…

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.

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