# NTSB ATL06LA072: Air Tractor AT-502, N1014D, Monroeville, AL, April 28, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2006, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Monroeville, AL - Coordinates: 31.463333, -87.351669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4633&lon=-87.3517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Pratt & Whitney of Canada, Birmingham FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63592 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63592/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06LA072 ## Probable cause Partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was climbing the airplane to 500 feet above ground level and heading to a field 10 miles northeast of the private airstrip. During the climb, the airplane was almost at the intended altitude when the pilot noticed that the internal turbine temperature on the engine was rising and started to lose engine power. The pilot made a forced landing into a soft field and the airplane nosed over. There was a post-impact fire around the engine compartment. Examination of the engine found the power turbine blades fractured with some axial movement noted. Circumferential rub marks were noted on the aft side of the blade roots and disk fir tree slots. The compressor screen was removed and no dents were noted, and all first stage blades were observed intact and rotated freely. No foreign object damage was noted. The engine was split at the "C" flange and some compressor turbine blades were observed fractured at mid-span with trailing edge deformation. No discrepancies were observed in the P3 system. The fuel control unit was impact damaged. The teardown inspection indicated that the engine was operating at the time of impact. Examination did not reveal evidence of uncontainment, case rupture, pre-impact malfunction, or in-flight fire. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2006 at 1530 central daylight time, a Air Tractor AT-502, N1014D, registered to and operated by Morrison Aircraft Corporation, Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, made a forced landing and nosed over, shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip in Monroeville, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. A post-crash fire confined to the engine compartment ensued. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he was climbing the airplane to 500 feet above ground level and heading to a field 10 miles northeast of the private airstrip. During climb, the airplane was almost at the intended altitude when the pilot noticed that the internal turbine temperature on the engine was rising and he started to lose engine power. He turned the airplane around and attempted to return to the airstrip that he had departed from, and then "realized he could not make it. He elected to make an emergency landing in the only possible clearing available, which was a pine tree clear cut area." He stated that the "touch down was normal but the wheels dug into the soft ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted." The fuel around the engine then ignited into flames. The pilot egressed without injury and notified local authorities. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the propeller and engine gearbox separated from the rest of the engine, and fire damage was localized around the engine compartment. The engine firewall was bent to the left and there was damage to both wings and wing control surfaces. Flight control continuity was established. There was fuel in both wing tanks. An engine examination was performed on May 22, 2006 by NTSB and Pratt and Whitney personnel. The engine was a PT6A-15AG, Serial Number 14098, and had accumulated 5,181 hours total time and 1,391 hours since its last hot section overhaul. The last recorded maintenance was a 100-hour inspection completed on March 27, 2006. Examination revealed the propeller and power section nose case had separated during impact. The propeller blades had chordwise scratches and were curled aft at varying degrees. The propeller governor linkage was attached. The power turbine blades were fractured with some axial movement noted. Circumferential rub marks were noted on the aft side of the blade roots and disk fir tree slots. The compressor screen was removed and no dents were noted, and all first stage blades were observed intact and rotated freely. No foreign object damage was noted. The engine was split at the "C" flange and some compressor turbine blades were observed fractured at mid-span with trailing edge deformation. No discrepancies were observed in the P3 system. The fuel control unit was impact damaged. According to the Pratt and Whitney representative the power turbine and compressor turbine blade damage was consistent with damage caused while the engine was rotating. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1014D (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor Inc. AT-502 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0058 - Airframe hours: 5101.9 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6A-15AG 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Morrison Aircraft Corp Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2006, 103 hours before - Departed: PVT, Monroeville, AL - Destination: Monroeville, AL - Airport: Private Grass Strip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2006; seat: center; flight hours: 9,232 total, 550 in this make and model, 9,167 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: GZH, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060428005379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060428005379A), Apr 28, 2006: Airtrc AT502, Monroeville, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft experienced engine power loss after takeoff, pilot attempted emergency landing in freshly plowed opening in pinetree orchard. Aircraft went… 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. --- 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.