# NTSB CEN22LA342: Air Tractor AT-502, N1540S, East Grand Forks, MN, July 21, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 21, 2022, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: East Grand Forks, MN - Coordinates: 47.930686, -97.012351 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9307&lon=-97.0124&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Minneapolis - NTSB case key (mKey): 105579 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA342 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105579/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105579 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA342 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the power lines during a low-level application pass. ## 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-502, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while maneuvering to apply chemical to a field at low altitude, the top of the vertical stabilizer struck a set of power lines. The pilot reported that “the rudder was hammed and [he] had no rudder control.” The pilot made a forced landing in a wheat field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident failures or malfunctions with the airplane before the collision with the power lines that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1540S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1540S), registered now, S/N 502-0171, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502 (NO SERIES) - 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: 502-0171 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 11602 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-15AG 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2022 - Departed: N/A, East Grand Forks, MN - Destination: N/A, East Grand Forks, MN - Airport: N/A ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,641 total, 104 in this make and model, 2,456 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 104 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 76 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 2989.00 inHg - Observed at: Unkown, 1 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). - [Incident 20220721008419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220721008419I), Jul 21, 2022: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, East Grand Fork, MN, Minor damage. PIC departed a private strip in East Grand Forks approximately 1830 local to conduct aerial spray operations. The pilot departed southerly into the prevailing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105579. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14353179&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22LA342%206120-1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14354134&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20for%20Docket%20CEN22LA342-Rel.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.