# NTSB CEN17LA190: Air Tractor AT 502, N144HF, Tahoka, TX, May 4, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 4, 2017, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Tahoka, TX - Coordinates: 33.18111, -101.819442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1811&lon=-101.8194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95200 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95200/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95200 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA190 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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 engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot of the aerial application flight reported that he had flown several flights in the morning and the airplane was operating normally. Before the final flight of the day, while the airplane was being loaded with product, he heard a noise, but all engine gauges appeared normal. He taxied down the runway and took off. About 30 ft above the ground, the airplane started making more noise and the engine was surging. The pilot attempted to add more power, but the engine did not respond. As the pilot was about to dump the chemical load, the airplane veered to the left and impacted the ground. After the pilot exited the airplane, a postcrash fire ensued. Detailed examination of the engine was not possible due to the severe fire damage. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 2017, about 1400 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, N144HF, was destroyed by a post-crash fire following a partial loss of engine power after takeoff from the Bar-T Airport (2F4), near Tahoka, Texas. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The aircraft registered to Wilmington Trust Company, Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by Plains Aerial Applications, Olton, Texas, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from 2F4, Tahoka, Texas, and its intended destination was to a local field to apply chemicals. The pilot reported that he had flown several aerial application flights in the morning and the airplane was operating normally. Prior to the final flight of the day, while the airplane was being loaded with chemicals, he heard a noise, but all engine gauges appeared to indicate that everything was normal. He taxied down runway 35, applied power, and took off. The engine gauges indicated turbine inlet temperature of 8,000° and propeller RPM 2,200. About 30 feet above the ground, the airplane plane started making a noise and the engine was surging. The pilot attempted to add more power, but the engine was not responding, and he tried to keep the airplane flying. Just as the pilot was going to dump the chemical load, the airplane veered to the left and hit the ground. After the pilot exited the airplane, a post-crash fire ensued. A witness at the airport saw the airplane takeoff and fly about 1/2 way down the runway. He stated that the airplane touched down on its left wheel and became airborne again. He saw the airplane past the departure end of the runway and it was losing altitude. He then saw the left wing tilting down and the airplane impacted the ground. Detailed examination of the engine was not possible due to the severe fire damage. No additional information on the accident was available. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N144HF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N144HF-2019-05-06), registration cancelled 2019-05-06, S/N 502-0068, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0068 - Year built: 1989 - Airframe hours: 11090 - Engines: P&W PT6-A-34AG 650 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Plains Aerial Applications - Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2016, 300 hours before - Departed: 2F4, Tahoka, TX - Destination: 2F4, Tahoka, TX - Airport: 2F4, T-Bar Airport, runway 35, 3,278 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 13 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: LBB, 35 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 20170504004119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170504004119A), May 4, 2017: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Tahoka, TX, Destroyed. On may 4, 2017, at approximately 1400 CDT, Air tractor, AT-502B aircraft registration number N144HF, impacted terrain at T-Bar Airport (2F4), in Tahoka, Texas.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 31, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95200. 784 KB in all. - Memorandum for the Record Pilot Statement CEN17LA190 (item 1, .PDF, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479518&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Statement%20CEN17LA190-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record FAA Inspector Findings CEN17LA190 (item 2, .PDF, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479519&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20FAA%20Inspector%20Findings%20CEN17LA190-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record Witness Statements CEN17LA190 (item 3, .PDF, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479520&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Witness%20Statements%20CEN17LA190-Master.PDF - Photo Array CEN17LA190 (item 4, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479521&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN17LA190-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.