# NTSB CEN13LA402: Air Tractor AT-502B, N5182C, Tillar, AR, July 3, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 2013, 14:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Tillar, AR - Coordinates: 33.709129, -91.449111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7091&lon=-91.4491&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA402 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87429/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87429 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA402 ## Probable cause The loss of engine throttle control during takeoff due to an unsecured cockpit throttle control pin, which resulted in a runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: powerplant parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During takeoff, the airplane sustained a partial loss of engine power and overran the runway after the pilot lost cockpit throttle control. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a throttle control pin lying on the cockpit floor. A cotter pin for the throttle control pin was missing; the length of time it had been missing could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2013, about 1450 central daylight time, an Air Tractor, Inc. AT-502B, N5182C, impacted terrain when it overran the runway during takeoff from a Tillar Airport (5AR1) near Tillar, Arkansas. The airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power when there was a loss of cockpit throttle control. A throttle control pin was found on the cockpit floor. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and wings. The commercial pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Confederate Air Inc under 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 137 as an aerial application flight and was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector from the Little Rock, Arkansas Flight Standards District Office, post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that a cockpit throttle control pin was lying on the cockpit floor. A cotter pin for the throttle control pin was missing, and the length of time it had been missing was not determined. The last maintenance inspection of the airplane was a 100-hour inspection dated April 18, 2013, at a Hobbs time of 57 hours. A National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report was not received from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5182C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5182C-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N 502B-0499, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0499 - Year built: 1998 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Confederate Air Inc - Registered owner: Confederate Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 18, 2013 - Departed: PVT, Tillar, AR - Destination: PVT, Tillar, AR - Airport: 5AR1, Tillar Airport, runway 36, 3,200 × 85 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; seat: center; flight hours: 11,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: LLQ, 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 20130703010939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130703010939A), Jul 3, 2013: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Tillar, AR, Substantial damage. At 14:50 on 07/03/2013 N5182C was taking off from a private airstrip, aircraft was being operated by a commercial rated pilot with a valid 2nd class medical.… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87429. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Request (item 1, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404335&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Request-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404351&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records - 100-hour Inspection (item 3, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404332&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20-%20100-hour%20Inspection-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Fuselage and Wing Damage (item 4, .PDF, 997 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Fuselage%20and%20Wing%20Damage-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Throttle Quadrant (item 5, .PDF, 953 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404346&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Throttle%20Quadrant-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Photo of Throttle Control Pin on Cockpit Floor (item 6, .PDF, 961 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404349&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Photo%20of%20Throttle%20Control%20Pin%20on%20Cockpit%20Floor-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.