# NTSB GAA16CA512: Air Tractor AT802, N519EP, Wilson, AR, September 6, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 6, 2016, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Wilson, AR - Coordinates: 33.419162, -93.060462 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4192&lon=-93.0605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Other: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94088 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA512 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94088/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94088 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA512 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to adequately survey the area of operation and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an agricultural application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Training: initial training](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04031010): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · Operator; cases with it: [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04031010/cases.md) - [Documentation/record keeping: personnel records](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04033015): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · Operator; cases with it: [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04033015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Other: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was on his sixth agricultural application pass of the third field for the day. He reported that, during that pass, the airplane's tail struck "unseen powerlines." He recalled that the power lines crossed the field at an angle and that the power line poles were hidden by trees on both sides of the field. The pilot flew to a nearby airport and landed without further incident. The vertical stabilizer and the rudder sustained substantial damage. Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137.19 (e) states, in part, Knowledge and skill tests. The applicant must show, or have the person who is designated as the chief supervisor of agricultural aircraft operations for him show, that he has satisfactory knowledge and skill regarding agricultural aircraft operations, as described in paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) of this section. (1)(i) Steps to be taken before starting operations, including survey of the area to be worked. … (1)(vi) Safe flight and application procedures. During an interview with the operator, the investigator-in-charge (IIC) asked if documented training was provided to pilots regarding the location of wire hazards for the area of operation, and the operator responded that it did not provide this information to its pilots. At the request of the IIC, the operator agreed to provide documented, local area power line and obstacle avoidance training to pilots who perform application operations. The operator has completed the recommended training. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was on his sixth aerial application pass of the third field for the day. He reported that during that pass, the airplane's tail struck "unseen powerlines". He recalled that the powerline wires crossed the field at an angle, and that the powerline poles were hidden by the trees on both sides of the field. The pilot flew to a nearby airport, and landed without further incident. The vertical stabilizer and the rudder sustained substantial damage. In accordance with 14 CFR Part 137, Section 19, (e)(1)(i)(vi) (a) General. An applicant for a private agricultural aircraft operator certificate is entitled to that certificate if he shows that he meets the requirements of paragraphs (b), (d), and (e) of this section. An applicant for a commercial agricultural aircraft operator certificate is entitled to that certificate if he shows that he meets the requirements of paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of this section. The agricultural aircraft operator is entitled to a commercial agricultural aircraft operator certificate if the operator can show that the knowledge and skills required by the Commercial Operator per paragraph (e) are complied with, which include: (i) Steps to be taken before starting operations, including survey of the area to be worked. (vi) Safe flight and application procedures. During an interview with the operator, the investigator-in-charge asked if documented training was provided to pilots regarding the location of wire hazards for the area of operation? The operator said, no. At the request of the investigator-in-charge, the operator agreed to provide documented, local area powerline wire and obstacle avoidance training to the pilots that are performing aerial application operations for the organization. The operator has completed the recommended training. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airframe or engine prior to the wire strike, that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N519EP (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT802 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802-0263 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 633 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AG 1295 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Empty Pockets Flying Service - Registered owner: Empty Pockets Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 21, 2016 - Departed: PVT, Wilson, AR - Destination: Wilson, AR - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 28, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,482.4 total, 360 in this make and model, 8,412.4 as pilot in command, 214.1 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KNQA, 17 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 20160906015009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160906015009A), Sep 6, 2016: Air Tractor AT-802, Bassett, AR, Substantial damage. On September 6, 2016, at 1030 CST, an Air Tractor AT-802, N519EP, registered to empty pockets flying service inc, collided with electrical power transmission… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94088. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450173&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450174&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%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.