Air Tractor AT502 N254LA

Summary

On 26 July 2018 at about 16:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT502 registered N254LA, operated by Obrien's Flying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Iowa, 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

26 July 2018 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Iowa, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

O'Brien Flying Service (LA71)

Coordinates

30.2244, -93.0003

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT502

Registration

N254LA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2016

Engines

1

Operator

Obrien's Flying Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Iowa → Iowa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA447

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped, restricted-category airplane, he had performed an agricultural flight and was landing to take on another load. He made a three-point landing with full flaps and closed the throttle. He stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane "turned violently to the right and got very light on the gear." The airplane’s nose had turned 45° right of the runway centerline, so he applied left brake and left rudder and then he added power. As the power increased, the airplane rolled left. The left wing struck the ground, and the pilot pulled the throttle to idle and then he applied reverse thrust and full brakes. However, the airplane exited the runway and collided with a drainage culvert. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and aileron. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was light and variable, but dust devils were present. Additionally, he reported that the accident could have been prevented by landing at a higher airspeed to keep airflow over the rudder and by minimizing the engine thrust. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.    

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.