- Date
- May 19, 2018, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Nicolaus, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5128NAir Tractor AT 402
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 24, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- Case key
- 97348
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a power transmission wire.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during an agricultural application flight, he observed a power transmission wire with no obstructions underneath. He added that he turned around to enter the spray field under the wire, where he observed one wire sagging lower than the other wires. While flying under the power transmission wire, the airplane encountered turbulence, so he decided to lower the nose to prevent being pushed into the wire. However, the tail rose up and struck the power transmission wire. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was calm.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during an aerial application flight, he observed a power transmission wire with no obstructions underneath. He added that he turned around to enter the spray field under the wire, where he observed one wire sagging lower than the other wires. While flying under the power transmission wire, he encountered turbulence, and decided to lower the nose to prevent being pushed into the wire. The tail went up and struck the power transmission wire. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported in the NTSB 6120.1 Form that the wind was calm.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5128N
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT 402 (A)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402A-1054
- Built
- 1998
- Airframe hours
- 5,133
- Engine
- P&W Canada PT6-11AG, 550 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Arena Pesticide Management Inc
- Registered owner
- Arena Pesticide Management Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2017
- Departed
- PVT · Knights Landing, CA
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 69
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 27, 2017
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 33,252 total · 631 in this make and model · 136 in the last 90 days · 105 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- KLHM, 7 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.8 MB in all.