# Accident 20240712012449A: Air Tractor 602, Dectur, IL, July 12, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 2024, 14:00 local time
- Place: Dectur, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: 9FRG
- Location: 39.8355° N, 88.8736° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8355&lon=-88.8736&mi=10
- Aircraft: N528JC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N528JC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-602 (registry code 0390309, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG (registry code 52109, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR 602
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 22,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA261) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240712012449A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING A NORMAL APPROACH TO LANDING AT KDEC ON RUNWAY 18.  ON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED OSCILATIONS OF THE TAILWHEEL AS EVIDENCED BY THE MARKS LEFT ON THE RUNWAY.  THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT EVENTUALLY SWUNG FAR TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT COLLAPSING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR NEAR THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK THE PROPELLOR AND RIGHT WING TIP.  INERTIA CARRIED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY 18 INTO THE GRASS.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ITS ROATION AND CAME TO A REST UPRIGHT ON A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 290.

POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL LOCK HANDLE WAS ENGAGED IN THE COCKPIT, BUT THE PIN THAT LOCKS THE TAILWHEEL WAS NOT ENGAGED.  EXAMINATION OF THE TAIL WHEEL LOCK PIN FOUND THAT THE PIN WAS PROTRUDING THROUGH THE HOUSING APPROXIMATELY 1/16".

THE HANDLE WAS OPERATED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO CHANGE OF POSITON OF THE LOCKING PIN.  CONTINUITY OF THE CONTROLS PROVED THAT THE HANDLE AND CABLE MECHANISM WAS COMPLETE BUT THAT THE SPRING THAT LOCKS THE PIN INTO THE TAIL WHEEL RECEPTACLE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TENSION TO OVERCOME THE RESISTANCE OF THE HOUSING THROUGH WHICH IT PASSED.  THE PIN AND SPRING WERE EVENTUALLY FREED AND SUCCESSIVE OPERATION OF THE COCKPIT HANDLE PROVIDED POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT OF THE TAIL WHEEL LOCK AND EXTENSION OF THE PIN THROUGH THE HOUSING OF APPROXIMATELY 1/2".

## 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 CEN24LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA261), Jul 12, 2024: Air Tractor AT602 (N528JC), Decatur, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to the malfunction of the tail wheel locking mechanism.

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.