# NTSB FTW02LA116: Air Tractor 502B, N9074H, Palestine, AR, April 10, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 2002, 07:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Palestine, AR - Coordinates: 34.999721, -90.947776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9997&lon=-90.9478&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54490 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54490/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54490 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA116 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power line while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - object - wire,transmission - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot of the agricultural airplane circled the field twice checking for wires, identifying two sets running at different angles. On his last spray pass, the pilot struck a "hidden wire" with the propeller, resulting in the wire striking the left aileron, leaving an 8 inch tear in the control surface. With the airplane still under control, the pilot proceeded to an alternate airport and landed without further incident. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 2002, approximately 0700 central daylight time, an Air Tractor 502B agricultural airplane, N9074H, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a wire while maneuvering near Palestine, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was being operated by the Hutcherson Flying Service, Forrest City, Arkansas, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Palestine at 0615. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that before spraying the field, he flew around it a couple of times, and noticed two sets of wires running at different angles. On his last spray run, the airplane struck a "hidden wire" with the propeller, which resulted in an 8 to 10 inch tear in the outboard section of the left aileron. After pulling up out of the field, the pilot noticed a certain amount of drag, which necessitated using cross-control forces to keep the airplane level. With the airplane still controllable, the pilot proceeded to an alternate airport and landed without further incident. No damage to the propeller was detected. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9074H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9074H), registered now, S/N 502B-0559, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor 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-0559 - Airframe hours: 1950 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Hutcherson Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 26, 2002, 32 hours before - Departed: AR17, Palestine, AR - Airport: AR17, Burns Aerodrome Airport, runway 18, 2,442 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 2, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 6,150 total, 1,882 in this make and model, 6,070 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 4 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 20020410007119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020410007119A), Apr 10, 2002: Airtrc AT502B, Palestine, AR, No damage. (-23) On April 10, 2002, approximately 0700 central daylight time, an air tractor 502B agricultural airplane, N9074H, sustained substantial damage when it… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54490. 290 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427779&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427780&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-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.