Air Tractor AT-502B N5850R
11 July 2022 · Decatur, Illinois, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 11 July 2022 at about 11:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502B registered N5850R, operated by Adams Aerial Solutions LLC, was involved in an accident near Decatur, Illinois, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 11:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Decatur, Illinois, United States
- Nearest airport
- Decatur Airport (DEC)
- Coordinates
- 39.8300, -88.8500
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502B
- Registration
- N5850R
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2004
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Adams Aerial Solutions LLC
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Decatur → Decatur
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN22LA312
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
Fracture of the compressor turbine (CT) blades due to creep.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
During departure climbout for spray operations, the pilot heard a “pop” and observed white smoke trailing the airplane. The pilot made a forced landing, during which the airplane struck an airport perimeter fence that resulted in substantial damaged to both wings. Examination revealed that all compressor turbine (CT) rotor blades were fractured at varying spanwise locations. The power turbine (PT) rotor blades downstream of the CT blades exhibited impact damage and were fractured at varying spanwise locations. Metallurgical analysis of the CT blades revealed micro-voids were present along the material grain boundaries and rafting of the gamma prime which were indicative of creep. Metallurgical analysis of the CT blades revealed solutioning of the gamma prime which is consistent with exposure to temperature in excess of the engine operating limits. It was not determined if the exposure to elevated temperatures occurred before or during the event.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Air Tractor AT-502B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug 2022 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Melville, Louisiana, United States | Aerial Crop Care Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2022 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Center Cross, Virginia, United States | Bank of Utah Trustee | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jul 2022 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Wyoming, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jun 2023 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Lake Village, Arkansas, United States | Baylee Company Inc | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jun 2023 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Bakersfield, California, United States | Wheeler Ridge Aviation Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Oct 2023 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Vidalia, Louisiana, United States | Ferriday Flying Service Inc | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jul 2022 | Beechcraft A35 | Centralia, Illinois, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Robinson R44 II | Waterloo, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Piper PA-28-235 | Monee, Illinois, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Mar 2022 | Cessna 172P | Pinckneyville, Illinois, United States | Southern Illinois University | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 2022 | Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2012 TRAVELLER | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Hyannis Air Service, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 11 Mar 2022 | Socata TBM 700 | Taylorville, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |