# NTSB CEN14LA349: Air Tractor AT-502, N9185G, Carthage, IL, July 7, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 2014, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Carthage, IL - Coordinates: 40.480834, -91.068336 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4808&lon=-91.0683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 89632 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA349 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89632/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89632 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA349 ## Probable cause The airplane’s inability to climb out of ground effect, which resulted from the pilot using a lower power setting than needed for takeoff due to the mechanic’s installation of the wrong engine torque gauge. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010000): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010000/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010000/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/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 lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was taking off for an agricultural application flight. The pilot stated that, during the takeoff, the engine did not lose power but that the airplane was unable to gain sufficient speed to climb. After realizing the airplane was not accelerating or climbing as expected, the pilot dumped the chemical load in an attempt to gain altitude. The airplane became airborne and cleared a pond at the end of the airstrip, but it then contacted a dirt bank and nosed over on the far side of the pond. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the engine torque gauge, which a mechanic had installed in the airplane about 3.5 months before the accident, was for a lower powered engine. The installation of the wrong gauge resulted in the redline on the gauge being lower than it should have been and likely resulted in the pilot not having an accurate torque indication and using a lower power setting than needed for the takeoff. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2014, about 1615 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502 airplane, N9185G, collided with a pond at the end of a private airstrip during takeoff in Carthage, Illinois. The pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Air Assault LLC as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported the airplane was loaded with 364 gallons of chemical and both fuel tanks were ¾ full. He stated the wind was calm and the outside temperature was 88 degrees Fahrenheit. The takeoff was being made with 10 to 15 degrees of flaps extended. The pilot taxied to the end of the runway and applied the brakes while advancing the engine power. He released the brakes and the torque increased to 1,550 foot-pounds within 3 seconds. He noted the propeller rpm was above 2,200 and the first third of the takeoff was normal. The tail lifted off the airstrip about 2/3 the way down the runway and not at the half-way point as the pilot expected, nor did the aircraft accelerate as the pilot expected. The pilot stated that at this point he was committed to the takeoff so he dumped the load and attempted to fly the airplane. The airplane became airborne and cleared a pond, but contacted a bank on the far side of the pond, and the airplane flipped inverted. The pilot stated the engine did not lose power during the takeoff and given the conditions of the day, it should have flown. A postaccident examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the Pratt & Whitney PT6-27 engine had been replaced with a higher powered -34 engine. On March 21, 2014, a new torque gauge was installed in the aircraft. The torque gauge installed was for the lower powered -27 engine which resulted in the redline on the gauge being lower than it should have been. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9185G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9185G), registered now, S/N 502-0213, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0213 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 10611 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Air Assault LLC - Registered owner: Air Assault LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 2014 - Departed: PVT, Carthage, IL - Destination: PVT, Carthage, IL - Airport: PVT, Pvt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2014; seat: center; flight hours: 2,294 total, 180 in this make and model, 2,254 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 140 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KBRL, 21 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 20140707010289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140707010289A), Jul 7, 2014: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Carthage, IL, Substantial damage. Aircraft made a take-off from a private Farm Strip to the south. From witness accounts, the aircraft went off the end of the grass runway and dragged it… ## Other investigations on N9185G (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 FTW97LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA140), Mar 23, 1997: Air Tractor AT-502 (N9185G), Watson, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain lift off speed and the ground loop/swerve encountered. Factors were the gravel and soft terrain at the end of the runway. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89632. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441612&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Logbook Entry (item 3, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441614&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Logbook%20Entry-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.