CEN24FA338

The agricultural pilot was conducting an aerial application flight when the airplane’s right wing struck a power transformer that was mounted to a power pole. The impact with the power transformer occurred while the airplane was flying west along the north edge of the field being sprayed. A witness saw the airplane pitch up over a grouping of large trees when it rolled to the right and then descended into an adjacent cornfield. A wreckage examination revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have prevented normal airplane operation. The right wingtip, right aileron counterbalance weight with mounting bracket, outboard half of the right aileron, and right-wing aileron cove skin separated from the airplane when the right wing struck the power transformer. As such, the pilot was unlikely able to maintain roll control of the airplane after the right wing struck the power transformer. Day visual meteorological conditions existed, and the position of the sun at the time would not have negatively affected the pilot’s view ahead of the airplane. The pilot’s autopsy and postmortem toxicology tests did not reveal any evidence of medical incapacitation or impairment.

On September 5, 2024, about 1014 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602 airplane, N602BA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Camden, Colorado. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 agricultural flight. A witness to the accident reported seeing the airplane complete an initial A-B line, followed by the first spray pass (presumably to the east) of the sugar beet field. The airplane then made a turn towards the west and began its second spray pass along the northern edge of the sugar beet field on a west heading. The witness noted that the airplane appeared to pitch up over a grouping of large cottonwood trees, when it rolled to the right and then descended into the cornfield north of County Rd W, as depicted in figure 1. Figure 1. Estimated airplane flight path and impact sequence. The pilot’s autopsy was performed by Strode Forensics, Fort Collins, Colorado, at the request of the Morgan County Coroner’s Office. According to the pilot’s autopsy report, his cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was accident. FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory toxicological testing of postmortem specimens from the pilot did not detect any carboxyhemoglobin, ethanol, or glucose. Tadalafil was detected in the pilot’s blood and urine. Tadalafil is a prescription medication commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, symptoms of an enlarged prostate, or to treat pulmonary hypertension. Tadalafil is not typically impairing, although the Federal Aviation Administration states that pilots who use it on an as-needed basis should wait 24 hours after use before flying, to monitor side effects. At the time of the accident, day visual meteorological conditions prevailed with no clouds or visibility restrictions at the altitudes that the airplane was flying. The sun was about 41° above the horizon and positioned in the east-southeast (123° true). Based on the wreckage distribution, the airplane was flying west along the north edge of the field when the outboard 3 ft of the right wing struck a power transformer that was mounted to a power pole, as shown in figure 2. According to the power company, the power pole’s first cross support was about 37 ft above ground level (agl) and the second cross support was 39 ft agl. The power transformer exhibited evidence of impact-related damage, as shown in figure 3, consisting of dents, yellow paint chips, and yellow paint transfers. After the power transformer damage, a wreckage debris path began from the power pole and continued west in the uncultivated portion of the field south of County Rd W. There were numerous yellow paint chips located directly underneath the power pole and scattered along wreckage debris path. Also found along the debris path were the right aileron counterbalance weight with mounting bracket, right wingtip, outboard half of the right aileron, and right-wing aileroncove skin. The right wingtip was found about 240 ft west-southwest of the power pole. After the airplane struck the power transformer, it continued 1,232 ft to the west-northwest where it impacted inverted in a cornfield, as shown in figure 4. The airplane remained inverted and slid 116 ft to the west-northwest. There was no evidence of a postimpact fire. An onsite wreckage examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. All primary (elevators, ailerons, and rudder) flight control surfaces with their respective trim tabs and counterbalance weights, and the flaps were accounted for during the onsite investigation. Flight control continuity from the cockpit to the ailerons and elevator could not be confirmed due to damage; however, all observed push/pull control tube damage was consistent with impact-related overstress damage or were cut to facilitate wreckage recovery. The rudder cables were continuous from the rudder horn to their respective pedal in the cockpit. The flaps remained attached to their respective wing and appeared to be in the fully retracted position. The flap actuator jackscrew extension was about 0.125 inch, consistent with the flaps fully retracted at impact. The engine and propeller exhibited damage that was consistent with engine operation at impact. Figure 2. Location of power pole as seen facing west along County Rd W. Figure 3. Damaged power transformers. Figure 4. Overhead photo of the initial ground impact and main wreckage. (Photo courtesy of Morgan County Sheriff’s Office)