# NTSB MIA01LA150: Air Tractor AT-502B, N6067A, Fort Pierce, FL, May 31, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 2001, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.495, -80.368331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4950&lon=-80.3683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52393/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA150 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb due to compressor turbine blade separation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - turbine assembly,turbine blade - separation - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had just taken off from the Southeastern Crop Service's private field, and he was about 100 feet in the air, when he heard a loud bang, and saw pieces coming out of the tailpipe. The pilot further stated that he then initiated a forced landing to an orange grove, and during the landing the airplane collided with trees and incurred substantial damage. An FAA inspector and a representative from Pratt and Whitney Canada, Montreal, Canada, conducted on-scene and follow-up examinations of the accident airplane. According to the Pratt and Whitney Canada representative, examination of the engine showed no sign of preimpact damage to the reduction gear box. In addition, the Pratt and Whitney Canada representative further stated that both the downstream damage, as well as the damage to the compressor turbine shroud were consistent with there having been a high energy impact due to compressor turbine blade fragments. The operator later provided portions of the engine to the NTSB after having first sent them to a laboratory he had contracted to conduct his own analysis. The NTSB conducted an examination of the engine parts the operator provided at the NTSB's Metallurgical Laboratory, Washington DC., and the examination showed the presence of damage consistent with overstress separations in cast materials. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 2001, about 0800 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, N6067A, registered to, and operated by Southeastern Aircraft Inc, as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural flight, crashed immediately after takeoff from a private field in Fort Pierce, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane incurred substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he had just taken off from the Southeastern Crop Service's private field, and he was about 100 feet in the air, when he heard a loud bang, and saw pieces coming out of the tailpipe. The pilot further stated that he then initiated a forced landing to an orange grove, and during the landing the airplane collided with trees and incurred substantial damage. An FAA inspector and a representative from Pratt and Whitney Canada, Montreal, Canada, responded to the accident site and conducted on-scene and follow-up examinations of the accident airplane. According to the Pratt and Whitney Canada representative, examination of the engine showed no sign of preimpact damage to the reduction gear box. In addition, the Pratt and Whitney Canada representative further stated that both the downstream damage, as well as the damage to the compressor turbine shroud were consistent with there having been a high energy impact due to compressor turbine blade fragments. The Pratt and Whitney Canada representative adding that fractured PMA compressor turbine blades had been found in the engine. The operator later provided portions of the engine to the NTSB after having first sent them to a laboratory he had contracted to conduct his own analysis. The NTSB conducted an examination of the engine parts the operator provided at the NTSB's Metallurgical Laboratory, Washington, D.C., and the examination showed the presence of damage consistent with overstress separations in cast materials. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6067A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6067A-2008-05-16), registration cancelled 2008-05-16, S/N 502B-0245 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor 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-0245 - Airframe hours: 3021.3 - Engines: Pratt-Whitney PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Southeastern Aircraft Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 5, 2001, 69 hours before - Departed: FD30, Fort Pierce, FL - Airport: FD30, Southestern Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review March 2, 2000; seat: single; flight hours: 30,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 30,000 as pilot in command, 122 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: FPR ## 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 20010531027869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010531027869A), May 31, 2001: Airtrc AT502B, Ftpierce, FL, No damage. (-23) Telephone conversation revealed the following: on may 31, 2001, at about 08:30 am local, the pilot took off from the southeastern airport with an attempt… 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.