# NTSB ERA12CA003: Air Tractor AT-502B, N90805, Fort Pierce, FL, October 4, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 4, 2011, 07:15 local (11:15 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.411388, -80.526107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4114&lon=-80.5261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81958 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81958/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81958 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0390307), [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-502B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot taxied the airplane to the end of the runway with the flaps set to three-fourths in preparation for takeoff. As the airplane accelerated down the runway, the tail of the airplane did not rise as the pilot expected, so he extended the flaps fully. As the airplane reached the end of the runway, the pilot believed that the airplane "did not want to fly." He elaborated that, while the engine instruments indicated no abnormalities, the engine was not providing the amount of power he expected and that the airplane's performance was sluggish. He attempted to jettison the loaded chemical to reduce the airplane's weight, but when he attempted to actuate the load-jettison handle, it would not move. As the airplane approached tall trees beyond the end of the runway and with the airplane nearing a stalled condition, the pilot attempted to land the airplane in an agricultural field ahead. During the landing, the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the nose, empennage, and left wing. A postaccident examination found no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine and that the load jettison mechanism functioned normally. An accurate determination of the airplane's weight at the time of the accident could not be calculated due to variances in the values provided by the pilot and the operator. ## Factual narrative The pilot estimated that he had serviced the tailwheel-equipped airplane with about 400 gallons of water and an unknown additional quantity of sulfur in preparation for an aerial application flight. Additionally, the pilot had previously installed rotary atomizer chemical disbursement devices on the airplane and then performed two test flights, noting that with the devices installed the airplane performed "sluggishly." The pilot then taxied the airplane to the end of the 2,600-foot-long runway with the flaps set to three-fourths in preparation for takeoff. As the airplane accelerated down the runway, the tail of the airplane did not rise as the pilot expected, so he extended the flaps fully. As the airplane reached the end of the runway, the pilot felt that the airplane "did not want to fly." He elaborated that while the engine instruments indicated no abnormalities, the engine was not providing the amount of power he expected and that the airplane's performance was sluggish. He attempted to jettison the loaded chemical to reduce the airplane's weight, but when he attempted to actuate the load jettison handle, it would not move. As the airplane approached tall trees beyond the end of the runway, and with the airplane nearing a stalled condition, the pilot attempted to land the airplane in an agricultural field ahead. During the landing, the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the nose, empennage, and left wing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane following the accident and found no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine and that the load jettison mechanism functioned normally. An accurate account of the airplane's weight at the time of the accident could not be calculated due to variances in the values provided by the pilot and the operator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90805](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90805-2017-04-11), registration cancelled 2017-04-11, S/N 502B-0597, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0597 - Airframe hours: 7450 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Southeastern Aerial Crop Service Inc - Registered owner: Southeastern Aerial Crop Service Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, June 8, 2011 - Departed: FD30, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: FD30, Fort Pierce, FL - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: FD30, Southeastern Airport, runway 09, 2,600 × 14 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 818 total, 15 in this make and model, 246 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: FPR, 9 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 20111004023589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111004023589A), Oct 4, 2011: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Ft Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. During crop dusting operation pilot attempted to takeoff, was observered pulling off rwy but settling back several times, as he floated back into Air hit 25 ft… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81958. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356464&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector Email Correspondence (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356467&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Email%20Correspondence-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Damage to Engine (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356465&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Damage%20to%20Engine%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Damage to Empennage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356466&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Damage%20to%20Empennage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Damage to Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Damage%20to%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.