# NTSB CEN20CA103: Air Tractor AT 602, N602BK, Bunkie, LA, February 22, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 22, 2020, 15:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Bunkie, LA
- Coordinates: 30.929166, -92.179168 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9292&lon=-92.1792&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101008
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101008/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA103

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to lock the tailwheel before landing, which resulted in his loss of directional control during the landing roll, a runway excursion onto soft ground, and a subsequent ground loop.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was performing a straight-in approach and landing. The airplane touched down on the runway centerline, and it was under control. After the tailwheel settled onto the runway, the pilot applied the brakes and retarded the engine power to the beta range. Shortly after, the airplane began to swerve left. The pilot's efforts to maintain directional control were unsuccessful, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway, encountered soft ground, and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot noted that he did not ensure that the tailwheel lock was engaged before landing.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was performing a straight in approach and landing. The airplane touched down on the runway centerline and under control. After the tailwheel settled onto the runway, the pilot applied the brakes and retarded the engine power into the beta range. Shortly afterward, the airplane began to swerve to the left. The pilot's efforts to maintain directional control were unsuccessful and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The momentum of the airplane resulted in a "classic ground loop" as it encountered the soft ground adjacent to the runway and then contacted a crop of sugar cane. The airplane sustained damage to the fuselage, right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot noted that the "mishap was most likely preventable" because he did not ensure that the tailwheel lock was engaged before landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N602BK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N602BK), registered now, S/N 602-1128, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT 602 (No Series)
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (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: 602-1128
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 8966.6
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60AG 1050 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Bunkie Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner: Bunkie Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 2020
- Departed: Iota, LA
- Destination: 2LA4, Bunkie, LA
- Airport: 2LA4, Bunkie Flying Service, runway 35, 5,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 16, 2019; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 16,964 total, 505 in this make and model, 15,479 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observed at: KOPL, 23 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 20200222004339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200222004339A), Feb 22, 2020: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Bunkie, LA, Substantial damage. On Saturday, February 22 2020, at approximately 1505 local time aircraft N602BK, a AT-602 departed ^jimmy leblanc's^ private airstrip, which is between crowley…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 30, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101008. 4.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481689&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Photo (item 2, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481690&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.

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