# NTSB GAA16CA321: Air Tractor AT 502, N1002L, Delhi, LA, June 15, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 15, 2016, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Delhi, LA
- Coordinates: 32.295833, -91.54 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2958&lon=-91.5400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 12, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93399
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA321
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93399/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93399
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA321

## Probable cause

The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll as a result of a piece of concrete from the runway impacting the right main landing gear brake during the landing roll, resulting in a right brake failure and a ground loop.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a telephone interview, the pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll on a private agricultural airstrip, a piece of concrete from the runway chipped off and hit the right brake. The pilot further reported that he applied the brakes to stop on the runway and then ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident mechanical inspection revealed that the hydraulic line on the right main landing gear was severed, which would have made the right brake inoperable.

## Factual narrative

During a telephone interview, the pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll on a private agricultural airstrip, a piece of concrete from the runway chipped off and hit the right brake. The pilot further reported that he applied the brakes to stop on the runway and then ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident mechanical inspection revealed that the hydraulic line on the right main landing gear was severed, which would have made the right brake inoperable.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1002L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1002L-2020-05-01), registration cancelled 2020-05-01, S/N 502-0018, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 502-0018
- Year built: 1988
- Airframe hours: 15764
- Engines: P&W Canada PT6A-34AGJ turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 19, 2015
- Departed: Delhi, LA
- Destination: Delhi, LA
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2016; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,750 total, 1,300 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: KTVR, 26 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 20160615012169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160615012169A), Jun 15, 2016: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Delhi, LA, Substantial damage. During landing roll out applied brakes at about 30 knots. Acft veered hard left and ground looped, breaking off tail wheel and bending tail cone.

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93399. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 521 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443998&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443999&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- FAA Record of Conversation with Aircraft Owner (item 3, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444000&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Aircraft%20Owner-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Mechanic (item 4, .PDF, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Mechanic-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA and Pilot) (item 5, .PDF, 3 photos, 662 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444002&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA%20and%20Pilot)-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.

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