Airplane Wreckage at Accident Site.
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Lubbock, Texas
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
http://registry.faa.gov/N144HF
Location: Tahoka, TX
Accident Number: CEN17LA190
Date & Time: 05/04/2017, 1400 CDT
Registration: N144HF
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural
On May 4, 2017, about 1400 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, N144HF, was destroyed by a post-crash fire following a partial loss of engine power after takeoff from the Bar-T Airport (2F4), near Tahoka, Texas. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The aircraft registered to Wilmington Trust Company, Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by Plains Aerial Applications, Olton, Texas, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from 2F4, Tahoka, Texas, and its intended destination was to a local field to apply chemicals.
The pilot reported that he had flown several aerial application flights in the morning and the airplane was operating normally. Prior to the final flight of the day, while the airplane was being loaded with chemicals, he heard a noise, but all engine gauges appeared to indicate that everything was normal. He taxied down runway 35, applied power, and took off. The engine gauges indicated turbine inlet temperature of 8,000° and propeller RPM 2,200. About 30 feet above the ground, the airplane plane started making a noise and the engine was surging. The pilot attempted to add more power, but the engine was not responding, and he tried to keep the airplane flying. Just as the pilot was going to dump the chemical load, the airplane veered to the left and hit the ground. After the pilot exited the airplane, a post-crash fire ensued.
A witness at the airport saw the airplane takeoff and fly about 1/2 way down the runway. He stated that the airplane touched down on its left wheel and became airborne again. He saw the airplane past the departure end of the runway and it was losing altitude. He then saw the left wing tilting down and the airplane impacted the ground.
Detailed examination of the engine was not possible due to the severe fire damage. No additional information on the accident was available.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 57, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/15/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 2000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 300 hours (Total, this make and model), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: AIR TRACTOR INC
Registration: N144HF
Model/Series: AT 502 UNDESIGNATED
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1989
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted
Serial Number: 502-0068
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/30/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 5280 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 300 Hours
Engines: 1 Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 11090 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: P&W
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: PT6-A-34AG
Registered Owner: WILMINGTON TRUST CO TRUSTEE
Rated Power: 650 hp
Operator: Plains Aerial Applications
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code: ODYG
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: LBB, 3250 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 35 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1353 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 360°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 13 knots / 23 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 20°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.22 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C / 1°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Tahoka, TX (2F4)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Tahoka, TX (2F4)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1400 CST
Type of Airspace: Class E
Airport Information
Airport: T-Bar Airport (2F4)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 3126 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 35
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3278 ft / 50 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 33.181111, -101.819444 (est)
NTSB Identification: CEN17LA190
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Thursday, May 04, 2017 in Tahoka, TX
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502, registration: N144HF
Injuries: 1 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On May 4, 2017, about 1400 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, N144HF, registered to Wilmington Trust Company, Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by Plains Aerial Applications, Olton, Texas, was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire following a loss of engine power after takeoff from the Bar-T Airport (2F4), near Tahoka, Texas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was being operated under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from 2F4, Tahoka, Texas, and its intended destination was to a local field to apply chemicals.
The pilot reported that he had flown several aerial application flights in the morning and the airplane was operating normally. Prior to the final flight of the day, while the airplane was being loaded with chemicals, he heard a noise, but all engine gauges appeared to indicate that everything was normal. He taxied down runway 35, applied power, and took off. The engine gauges indicated, ITI 8,000, propeller RPM 2,200. About 30 feet above the ground, the airplane plane started making a noise and the engine was surging. The pilot attempted to add more power, but the engine was not responding, and he tried to keep the airplane flying. Just as the pilot was going to dump the chemical load, the airplane veered to the left and hit the ground. After the pilot exited the airplane and post-crash fire ensued. A witness at the airport, saw the airplane takeoff and fly about 1/2 way down the runway. He stated that the airplane touched down on its left wheel and became airborne again. He saw the airplane past the departure end of the runway and it was losing altitude. He then saw the left wing tilting down and the airplane impacted the ground.
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