Air Tractor AT-502B N5128U

Summary

On 1 August 2012 at about 19:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502B registered N5128U, operated by Delta Dusters LLC, was involved in an accident near Newellton, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 August 2012 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Newellton, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Kifer Airport (LS83)

Coordinates

32.0625, -91.2542

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-502B

Registration

N5128U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Delta Dusters LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Newellton → Newellton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA500

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate takeoff planning and his use of an improper flap setting, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff, the airplane's tail rose when the airplane was about halfway down the runway, but the airplane did not get airborne. The airplane exited the end of the 2,750-foot-long, 75-feet-wide, asphalt runway; struck a road embankment; and continued rolling about 600 feet into a cotton field, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The examination of the airplane's electric flap actuator jackscrew revealed that it was extended out about 2.5 inches, which indicates that the flaps were set at 20 degrees at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the operating weight at the time of the accident was 10,283 lbs and that the airplane's maximum gross weight was 10,480 lbs; however, the airplane flight manual specified a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 8,000 lbs. Regulations and guidance related to agricultural application flights in restricted-category airplanes allowed for operations at weights up to 31 percent above the certificated gross takeoff weight, or 10,480 lbs; however, the airplane manufacturer did not authorize takeoffs with flaps extended more than 10 degrees. Performance data indicated that, at a maximum certificated gross weight of 8,000 lbs with 10 degrees of flaps, a takeoff distance on a hard surface runway of about 2,800 feet was required. The airplane flight manual did not contain takeoff data for weights or flap settings more than 8,000 lbs and 10 degrees, respectively; however, a 2,750-foot-long runway was inadequate.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.