Air Tractor AT-802A N91092

Summary

On 14 August 2002 at about 16:11 local time, a Air Tractor AT-802A registered N91092, operated by U.S.D.A. Forest Service, was involved in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 August 2002 at 16:11

Classification

Accident

Location

Broomfield, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Jeffco Airport (BJC)

Coordinates

39.9086, -105.1172

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-802A

Registration

N91092

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

U.S.D.A. Forest Service

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Broomfield → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN02TA092

1 person had minor injuries.

the airplane's left main landing gear tire separated from its wheel during takeoff roll for an undetermined reason. Contributing factors were the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control during takeoff roll and the subsequent impact with the Visual Approach Slope Indicator box.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot taxied onto runway 29R, with approximately 700 gallons of fire retardant. He started the takeoff roll and at approximately 800 to 900 feet down the runway he heard a "distinct bang." The airplane immediately started an uncommanded turn to the left, and the pilot, using right rudder and right braking action, could not regain control of the aircraft. The airplane departed the runway and impacted the Visual Approach Slope Indictor box, which sheared the right main landing gear off. Subsequently, the right wing and aileron were bent up. Postaccident examination of the airplane by maintenance personnel revealed that the left main tire inner seal had separated from the wheel. No determination was made why this event occurred. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector said he found two black skid marks on the runway; the left one started 10 to 15 feet before the right one.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.