Thursday, October 24, 2019

Air Tractor AT502, N9143F: Accident occurred October 22, 2019 in Lamesa, Dawson County, Texas

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


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms 
 
https://registry.faa.gov/N9143F


Location: Lamesa, TX
Accident Number: CEN20LA013
Date & Time: 10/22/2019, 1200 CDT
Registration: N9143F
Aircraft: Air Tractor AT 502
Aircraft Damage: Minor
Defining Event: Miscellaneous/other
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural

On October 22, 2019, about 1200 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B airplane, N9143F, collided with a tagline rope while maneuvering near a wind turbine located near Lamesa, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured, but a worker on the ground was seriously injured. The airplane sustained minor damage. The airplane was operated by Plains Aerial Applicators Inc, Olton, Texas, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 aerial application flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Lamesa Municipal Airport (LUV), Lamesa, Texas, at 1108.

According to the pilot, the takeoff and aerial application portion of the flight was uneventful. The pilot reported that as he flew back toward LUV he sent a text message to a friend who was working on a wind turbine located along US Route 180 and about 10 miles east of LUV. The pilot stated that he intentionally flew at a low altitude past the wind turbine that he believed his friend was working on. The airplane's right wing collided with a tagline rope that was attached to one of the wind turbine blades and being held by a worker on the ground. Following the collision, the pilot was able to make a normal landing at LUV. The airplane sustained minor damage to the right wing leading and trailing edges. The pilot reported that he later found out that his friend had been working on a different wind turbine in the same area.

According to the wind turbine company, the technician on the ground was holding onto a 500 ft long tagline rope that was attached to a wind turbine blade about 403 ft above the ground. The technician was standing about 294 ft from the base of the wind turbine when the airplane collided with the tagline rope. The technician was thrown about 20 ft and sustained several fractured vertebrae and a broken leg.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 43, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/24/2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/14/2018
Flight Time:  1680 hours (Total, all aircraft), 400 hours (Total, this make and model), 1450 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 78 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 50 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Air Tractor
Registration: N9143F
Model/Series: AT 502 B
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted
Serial Number: 502-0197
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/07/2019, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 8000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 80 Hours
Engines: 1 Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 11086 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: PT6A
Registered Owner: Wilmington Trust Co Trustee
Rated Power: 680 hp
Operator: Plains Aerial Applicators Inc.
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Operator Does Business As: Plains Aerial Applicators Inc.
Operator Designator Code: ODYG 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: LUV, 2999 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1155 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 280°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 11000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 130°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.24 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / -3°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Lamesa, TX (LUV)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Lamesa, TX (LUV)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1108 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Minor
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 32.735000, -101.743333

Location: Lamesa, TX
Accident Number: CEN20LA013
Date & Time: 10/22/2019, 1200 CDT
Registration: N9143F
Aircraft: Air Tractor AT 502
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural

On October 22, 2019, about 1200 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B airplane, N9143F, collided with a tagline rope while maneuvering near a wind turbine located near Lamesa, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured, but a wind turbine technician on the ground was seriously injured. The airplane sustained minor damage. The airplane was operated by Plains Aerial Applicators Inc, Olton, Texas, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 aerial application flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Lamesa Municipal Airport (LUV), Lamesa, Texas, at 1108.

According to the pilot, the takeoff and aerial application portion of the flight was uneventful. The pilot reported that as he flew back toward LUV he sent a text message to a friend who was working on a wind turbine located along US Route 180 and about 10 miles east of LUV. The pilot stated that he intentionally flew at a low altitude past the wind turbine that he believed his friend was working on. The airplane's right wing collided with a tagline rope that was attached to one of the wind turbine blades and being held by a technician on the ground. Following the collision, the pilot was able to make an uneventful landing at LUV. The airplane sustained minor damage to the right wing leading and trailing edges. The pilot reported that he later found out that his friend had been working on a different wind turbine in the same geographic area.

According to the wind turbine company, the technician on the ground was holding a 500 ft long tagline rope that was attached to a wind turbine blade about 403 ft above the ground. The technician was standing about 294 ft from the base of the wind turbine when the airplane collided with the tagline rope. The technician was thrown about 20 ft when the airplane impacted the tagline, during which he sustained several fractured vertebrae and a broken leg.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Air Tractor
Registration: N9143F
Model/Series: AT 502 B
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Plains Aerial Applicators Inc.
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: LUV, 2999 ft msl
Observation Time: 1155 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / -3°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / , 130°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 11000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.24 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:  None
Departure Point: Lamesa, TX (LUV)
Destination: Lamesa, TX (LUV)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Unknown
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 32.735000, -101.743333 

A man working at a wind turbine east of Lamesa suffered what were described as “moderate” injuries when a guy-line he was holding was hit by a small plane. 

Jesus M. Banda, 26, of San Benito was taken by ambulance to Medical Arts Hospital in Lamesa and then was expected to be flown to a Lubbock hospital, according to Lamesa Fire Chief Larry Duyck.

The accident occurred shortly after noon at a wind turbine located near the intersection of Highway 180 and County Road W, east of Key.

Duyck said Banda was one of five individuals on the ground.

Read more here ➤ https://www.pressreporter.com

1 comment:

  1. I am afraid this pilot is in for more than a reprimand.

    ReplyDelete