# NTSB CEN12CA221: Air Tractor AT-402A, N4544S, Ganado, TX, April 2, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 2, 2012, 09:10 local (14:10 UTC) - Place: Ganado, TX - Coordinates: 28.9825, -96.412223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9825&lon=-96.4122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 83279 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83279/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83279 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA221 ## Probable cause The improper positioning of the hopper vent, which allowed chemicals to escape and cover the airplane's windshield. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Windows-windshield system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600/cases.md?model=0390206), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600/cases.md) - [Loading](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011500): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011500/cases.md?model=0390206), [All aircraft, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011500/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=0390206), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=0390206), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390206), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis On the day before the accident, the pilot installed dry fertilizer equipment on the airplane. Later that afternoon, the pilot removed the dry fertilizer equipment and installed spray booms and a spray pump in preparation for dispensing a liquid chemical the next day. The following day, during the takeoff roll, chemicals started covering the windshield, and the windshield washer had no effect. The pilot lost all outside visual references and was unable to maintain level flight. The airplane impacted the ground and slid to a stop. Postaccident examination revealed that the hopper vent had not been turned around. The hopper was still pressurized and chemicals blew out of the hopper lid onto the windshield. ## Factual narrative On the day before the accident, the pilot installed dry fertilizer equipment on the airplane. Later that afternoon, the pilot removed the dry fertilizer equipment and installed spray booms and a spray pump in preparation for dispensing a liquid chemical the next day. The following day, during the takeoff roll, chemical started covering the windshield. The windshield washer had no effect. The pilot lost all outside visual references and was unable to maintain level flight. The airplane impacted the ground and slid to a stop. Postaccident examination revealed the hopper vent had not been turned around. The hopper was still pressurized and chemical blew out of the hopper lid onto the windshield. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4544S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4544S-2018-01-04), registration cancelled 2018-01-04, S/N 402A-0782 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-402A - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402a) (registry code 0390206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402A-0782 - Airframe hours: 7746 - Engines: P&W PT6A-27 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Nelson Flying Service - Registered owner: Coastal Flying Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2012 - Departed: NONE, Granado, TX - Destination: NONE, Granado, TX - Airport: NONE, Coastal Flying Service, runway 16, 3,000 × 25 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2012; seat: single; flight hours: 3,600 total, 550 in this make and model, 3,550 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 20120402004609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120402004609A), Apr 2, 2012: Air Tractor Inc AT-402A, Ganado, TX, Substantial damage. On 04/02/2012, at approximately 09:00 (CDT) an Air tractor, N4544S, model 402A, s/n 402A-0782 was sebstantially damaged when the aircraft crashed into a field,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83279. 3.7 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - E-Mail from FAA (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail%20from%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Inverted airplane, front (item 3, .PDF, 515 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366460&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Inverted%20airplane,%20front-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Inverted airplane, left side (item 4, .PDF, 546 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366464&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Inverted%20airplane,%20left%20side-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Inverted airplane, right rear. Note the chemical spray on the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. (item 5, .PDF, 553 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Inverted%20airplane,%20right%20rear.%20Note%20the%20chemical%20spray%20on%20the%20fuselage%20and%20vertical%20stabilizer.-Master.PDF 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.