# NTSB CEN20LA109: Air Tractor AT 602, N5197Y, Dumas, AR, February 25, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 25, 2020, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Dumas, AR - Coordinates: 33.869998, -91.526947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8700&lon=-91.5269&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Transportation Safety Board of Canada, FAA Little Rock FSDO, Air Tractor, Pratt & Whitney Canada - NTSB case key (mKey): 101018 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101018/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101018 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA109 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line pole during a low-level aerial application flight, which resulted in impact with the bracket and a subsequent forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 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: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); 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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after completing a low-level aerial application over a field, he executed a trim pass on the north side of the field. While flying between 160 and 180 mph, the airplane’s propeller impacted a metal bracket attached to the top of a 35-ft power line pole. After the impact, there were "extreme" vibrations throughout the engine and airframe, and oil from the engine coated the front three windshield panels. The pilot attempted to clear the oil with the windshield wiper system but was not successful. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to perform an emergency landing to a dirt road about 1/2 mile north of the power line pole. Both wings and the rudder sustained substantial damage during the forced landing. ## Factual narrative On February 25, 2020, about 1030 central standard time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N5197Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Dumas, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The pilot reported that after the completion of a low-level aerial application operation over a field, he executed a trim pass on the north side of the field with about 495 gallons (about 4,133 lbs) of product in the hopper. While flying from west to east, between "160 to 180" mph, the five-blade metal propeller impacted a galvanized metal bracket attached to the top of a 35 ft tall wooden power line pole. The bracket was about one ft wide and two ft long. One of the propeller blades separated about midspan from the impact. After the impact, there were "extreme" vibrations throughout the engine and airframe, and oil from the engine coated the front three windshield panels. The pilot attempted to clear the oil with the windshield wiper system with no avail. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to perform an emergency landing to an east to west oriented dirt road, about a half mile north of where the wooden power line was located. The hopper load was not dumped before the landing. Due to the reduced visibility, the pilot landed while looking out the left window. Both wings impacted the ground during the landing sequence and the airplane came to rest over a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the rudder. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. While the wooded power line pole was previously identified by the pilot, the pilot reported that he did not know about, nor did he see the metal bracket attached to the top of the wooden power line pole. The pilot further reported that he did not feel the glare of the sun, which was positioned 39° above the horizon and at an azimuth of 143°, was a factor in the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved Air Tractor AT-602 Airplane Flying Manual (AFM) discusses general procedures for low-level aerial application flights, however the AFM does not contain guidance regarding post-obstacle strike actions (obstacles such as those commonly encountered in low-level aerial application flights such as a wire, pole, tower, or tree) and emergency hopper dump guidance, nor is such guidance required. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5197Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5197Y-2021-04-10), registration cancelled 2021-04-10, S/N 602-0529, built 1999 (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 Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-0529 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 10051 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60AG 1050 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: David Moss, doing business as Moss Flying Service - Registered owner: David Moss - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 29, 2019 - Departed: None, Tillar, AR - Destination: None, Tillar, AR - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2018; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,867 total, 2,887 in this make and model, 7,842 as pilot in command, 37.2 in the last 90 days, 37.2 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KLLQ, 18 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 20200225006759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200225006759A), Feb 25, 2020: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Dumas, AR, Substantial damage. On February 25, 2020 at 1400L, an Air tractor AT-602 with a commercial rated pilot on board was involved in an agricultural spraying operation in Dumas, AR.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101018. 6.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484861&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photographs (item 2, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484862&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs%20-Master.PDF - Various Records of Conversations (item 3, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Various%20Records%20of%20Conversations%20-Master.PDF - SunCalc.org Sun Data (item 4, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484864&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=SunCalc.org%20Sun%20Data-Master.PDF - NTSB Party Member Form (item 5, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Party%20Member%20Form%20-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.