# NTSB WPR19LA112: Air Tractor AT502, N599LA, Morganza, LA, April 16, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 16, 2019, 07:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place: Morganza, LA
- Coordinates: 30.722499, -91.648056 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7225&lon=-91.6481&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Uncontrolled descent: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Air Tractor, Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99272
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99272/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99272
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA112

## Probable cause

A loss of aircraft control due to the separation of the elevator pushrod attachment bolt.

## Findings

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

- [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While performing an aerial application flight, the pilot heard a loud noise, followed by the nose of the airplane pitching up. The pilot applied full forward pressure on the flight control stick with no response. He then reduced the power to arrest the climb. A company employee who witnessed the accident reported that the airplane pitched up dramatically, hesitated, and then pitched almost straight nose-down before it impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the aluminum elevator pushrod was disconnected from the forward idler and that the attachment bolt was missing. The missing attachment bolt was later found undamaged in the wreckage and no additional anomalies were noted with the airplane or engine. It is likely the noise the pilot heard was the attachment bolt separating from elevator pushrod. After the separation, the pilot would have had little to no elevator control, which is consistent with his description of the accident sequence.

## Factual narrative

On April 16, 2019, at 0750 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, N599LA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Morganza, Louisiana. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. According to the operator, the pilot heard a loud noise, followed by the nose of the airplane pitching up. The pilot applied full forward pressure on the flight control stick with no response. He then reduced the power to arrest the climb. A company employee, who witnessed the accident, reported that the airplane pitched up dramatically, hesitated, and then pitched almost straight nose-down before it impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the aluminum elevator pushrod was disconnected from the forward idler and that the attachment bolt was missing. There was no damage to the forward idler or to the rod end bearing. The missing attachment bolt was later found undamaged in the wreckage. No additional anomalies were noted with the flight controls, airplane, or engine.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N599LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N599LA-2020-04-28), registration cancelled 2020-04-28, S/N 502-0599, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT502 (B)
- 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-0599
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 12450.75
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Aerial Crop Care Inc
- Registered owner: Aerial Crop Care Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2019
- Departed: 17LS, Port Barre, LA
- Destination: Morganza, LA
- Airport: Frey Farms
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KHZR

## 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 20190416002939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190416002939A), Apr 16, 2019: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Morganza, LA, Destroyed. The pilot of N599LA was on approach to land at grass strip next to sugar cane fields that were to be treated. The aircraft suddenly pitched up then pitched…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99272. 9.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14171308&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Maps or charts of accident area (operator) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14186184&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Map%20accident%20site%20Operator-Rel.pdf
- NTSB airframe examination (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 980 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14186130&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20Examination%20WPR19LA112_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Summary of findings (FAA) (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 837 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14186497&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings%20(FAA)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Air tractor report (item 5, PDF, 14 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14234142&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA112%20Examination%20Report%20(Public%20Docket)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 264 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14260749&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form%20WPR19LA112_Redacted-Rel.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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