# Incident 20250515006659I: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Lonoke, AR, May 15, 2025

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 2025, 15:15 local time
- Place: Lonoke, AR
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: KQVG
- Location: 34.7905° N, 91.9074° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lonoke, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7905&lon=-91.9074&mi=10
- Aircraft: N805KP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N805KP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-802A (registry code 0390308, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (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 INC AT-802A
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-65AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,786 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250515006659I

## Narrative

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

AN AIR TRACTOR AT802A WAS INVOLVED IN A TAKE-OFF INCIDENT, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM AN UNAPPROVED GRASS LANDING STRIP ON A RUNWAY HEADING OF 090 DEGREES WITH WINDS THAT DAY BEING 240 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. WHEN THE AIRPLANE STRUGGLED TO GAIN LIFT, THE PIC LOOKED TO HIS LEFT AND RIGHT AND NOTICED THE FLAPS WERE RETRACTING UNCOMMANDED AFTER SELECTING 20 DEGREES FOR TAKEOFF. AT THIS POINT, THE RUNWAY DISTANCE WAS QUICKLY DECREASING, AND THE PIC ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, SELECTING FULL REVERSE THRUST; HOWEVER, IT WAS TOO LATE, AND THE AIRPLANE HIT A DRAINAGE DITCH AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. IN THE INCIDENT SEQUENCE, THE ENGINE PROPELLER, LEFT WING, AND AERIAL APPLICATION APPARATUS STRUCK THE GROUND/DITCH. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS ALSO SEVERED FROM THE AIRPLANE. ONE POB, NO INJURIES.

THE INVESTIGATOR IN CHARGE (IIC) DISCOVERED THAT THE FLAP ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY COUPLING, PART NUMBER B100-06, WHICH SERVES AS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ELECTRIC FLAP MOTOR AND THE ACTUATOR LYING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AIRCRAFT, WAS BROKEN. UPON EXAMINATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE METAL KEYS WITHIN THE COUPLING HAD SHEARED OFF, LEADING TO THE FAILURE OF THIS CRITICAL COMPONENT. ACCORDING TO AIR TRACTOR SERVICE LETTER (SL) 260, WHICH PROVIDES DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING THE FLAP ACTUATOR COUPLING, THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE COUPLING AFTER 400 HOURS OF OPERATION. HOWEVER, IN THIS INSTANCE, THE COUPLING FAILED AT 575.7 HOURS, SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEEDING THE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT INTERVAL.

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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