# NTSB ERA12CA216: Air Tractor AT-502B, N9148C, Hollandale, MS, March 7, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 7, 2012, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Hollandale, MS - Coordinates: 33.180557, -90.830276 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1806&lon=-90.8303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83068 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83068/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83068 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA216 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taxiing in gusty wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/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-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was taxiing the tailwheel-equipped agricultural application airplane for takeoff when the airplane encountered a left quartering tailwind gust, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane veered left and departed the left side of the runway. The tailwheel block attaching bolts failed and the tailwheel spring impacted the ground, stopping the airplane's lateral rotation, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage just forward of the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative While back-taxiing the tail wheel-equipped agricultural application airplane for takeoff, the pilot reported that he encountered a gust of left quartering tailwind and was "unable to maintain directional control" of the airplane. The airplane veered left and departed the left side of the runway. The tail wheel block attaching bolts subsequently failed and the tail wheel spring then impacted the ground, stopping the airplane's lateral rotation, and shearing all four of the longerons just forward of the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9148C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9148C), registered now, S/N 502B-0632 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0632 - Airframe hours: 6477 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT-6A 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 2012, 6,470 hours before - Departed: 14M, Hollandale, MS - Destination: 14M, Hollandale, MS - Airport: 14M, Hollandale Municipal, runway 08, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 18,111 total, 11,083 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: GLH, 20 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 20120307002939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120307002939A), Mar 7, 2012: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Hollandale, MS, Substantial damage. While back taxi on the runway for take off, the pilot lost directional control. The aircraft tail gear ran off the runway into soft earth, causing the 4… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83068. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364582&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.