What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 9/28/2023 approximately 11:30 am local time at the Herington Regional Airport (hru). The Air tractor AT-802 was conducting a landing at hru on runway 35 when the aircraft started to veer right both pilots, ATP rated, applied full left rudder, and attempted to apply brakes while verbally confirming control inputs. With the left rudder pedal the pilots are unable to apply left brake due to the spray lever rod installation on this model of aircraft. The aircraft departed the runway into the grass on the right side of runway 35 colliding with a ditch. Damage was caused the propeller, left main gear detached from the aircraft, and damage to the wing. No evidence of pilot error was discovered. The result of the spray level rod affecting the controls of the aircraft and how many aircraft this will affect is still under investigation.
As the FAA filed it
ON 9/28/2023 APPROXIMATELY 11:30 AM LOCAL TIME AT THE HERINGTON REGIONAL AIRPORT (HRU). THE AIR TRACTOR AT-802 WAS CONDUCTING A LANDING AT HRU ON RUNWAY 35 WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO VEER RIGHT BOTH PILOTS, ATP RATED, APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER, AND ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES WHILE VERBALLY CONFIRMING CONTROL INPUTS. WITH THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL THE PILOTS ARE UNABLE TO APPLY LEFT BRAKE DUE TO THE SPRAY LEVER ROD INSTALLATION ON THIS MODEL OF AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY 35 COLLIDING WITH A DITCH. DAMAGE WAS CAUSED THE PROPELLER, LEFT MAIN GEAR DETACHED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, AND DAMAGE TO THE WING. NO EVIDENCE OF PILOT ERROR WAS DISCOVERED. THE RESULT OF THE SPRAY LEVEL ROD AFFECTING THE CONTROLS OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HOW MANY AIRCRAFT THIS WILL AFFECT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.