20240625012299A

On June 25, 2024, about 0820 central daylight TIME1, an Air tractor, inc., AT-502 was destryoed when it was involved in an accident near Martin, Tennessee. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a title

14 Code of federal regulations part 137 aerial application flight. Witness who was outside located about 422 ft and 297° from the 1st impacted tree reported seeing the airplane flying in a southerly direction. He reported it was flying about 15 to 20 ft above the heights of treetops and was not spraying chemical. The engine sounded normal, then when near his position he heard a sound or loud noise like dragging something, and then about 2 to 3 seconds later heard a loud noise. He then called 911 to report the accident. The pilot, age 61, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land and instrument airplane ratings, issued February 5, 2010. He held a 2nd class medical certificate with a limitation to use corrective lenses to meet vision standards at all required distances, issued January 29, 2024. The pilot was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The outer shield was cracked and there were small cracks in the lower right rear corner. The gray colored visor was separated from the helmet and found to have a piece missing. The helmet serial number was 200000184.the single seat AT-502A airplane, was manufactured in 2024. It was powered by an 867 shaft horsepower pratt & whitney Canada PT6A-140AG engine and equipped with a four-bladed, constant speed, reversible propeller. Review of the maintenance records revealed the airplane’s first 100-hour inspection since manufacture was performed on June 7, 2024, at 104 hours total time. The airplane hour meter at the time of the accident was 144.4, thus the airplane had accrued 40.4 hours since the 100-hour inspection was performed. The airplane was equipped with a satloc GPS receiver, an electronics international, inc., model p/n MVP-50T-80L-65BG engine monitor, engine monitor data indicated the engine was producing approximately 500 horsepower at the time of impact. Satloc GPS data was unable to provide any information on flight data for the day of the accident. The main wreckage except the right wingtip and a spray nozzle was located in a heavily wooded area adjacent to a residences and crop fields. The main wreckage was inverted on a magnetic heading of 299°, and was located at 36.309868° north latitude and - 88.891250° west longitude at a GPS altitude of 361 ft. a heavy smell of fuel was noted on arrival. There was no evidence of pre, or post-crash fire, or bird remains on any portion of the airframe or engine. Further examination of the immediate area of the main wreckage revealed several trees were fractured, the tallest fracture was located about 40 ft above ground level (AGL).4 the location of that tree was 36.310039° north latitudeand -88.891113° west longitude, which was about 75 ft from the main WRECKAGE3. The angle between the fractured tree about 40 ft AGL and the ground impact was determined to be about 046° on a magnetic heading of about 220°. Further examination of the area immediately adjacent to the main wreckage revealed several fallen trees. One tree, located immediately behind the left wing exhibited a diagonal cut into the trunk with black paint transfer on the cut located about 15 ft 10 inches AGL. The black transfer was consistent with propeller blade contact. A photographic drone flight over the accident site area revealed evidence of a steep descent examination of the heavily wooded area north-northeast of the accident site revealed the separated right wingtip was located on the ground at 36.311342° north latitude and -88.890317° west longitude, or about 605 ft and 027° from the main wreckage. Inspection of trees on the south edge of a field immediately north of the location of the right wingtip. FAA and NTSB inpection of the aircraft did not reveal any mechanical malfuntions prior to the accident.