Saturday, June 11, 2022

Pyka Pelican, N605PK: Accident occurred May 14, 2022 in Winters, Yolo County, California

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.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Sacramento, California 

Pyka Inc


Location: Winters, California 
Accident Number: WPR22LA183
Date and Time: May 14, 2022, 12:05 Local
Registration: N605PK
Aircraft: PYKA INC PELICAN 
Injuries: N/A
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PYKA INC 
Registration: N605PK
Model/Series: PELICAN 7 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEDU, 69 ft msl
Observation Time: 11:55 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C /8°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / , 360°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Winters, CA 
Destination: Winters, CA

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: N/A 
Latitude, Longitude: 38.599861,-121.97961 (est)


6 comments:

  1. I guess that's the risk of a zero hour 'pilot' who solo's right out of ground school

    ReplyDelete
  2. The aircraft is a battery powered spray drone, reportedly autonomous. No pilot on board, nor by remote control if the advertised scoop is correct. Flies for 30 minutes, then a battery swap. Payload 700 pounds/84 gallons.

    Comparing to Air Tractor capacities: AT-402 is 5,150 lb/400 gallons, AT-802 is 9,249 lb/800 gallons.

    https://flypyka.com/agriculture.html
    https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2021/january/pilot/future-flight-pyka-pelican
    https://newatlas.com/drones/pyka-pelican-autonomous-electric-crop-spraying-drone/

    ReplyDelete
  3. The electric car mind-set generation is now taking over the ag spraying business.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not much of a threat to conventional Ag flying so far.

      Battery swapping every 30 minutes at the farm site means there has to be a diesel generator running there to recharge the batteries. Doesn't look like the wings fold, so the initial flight to reach the operating area depletes the charge before you even load the hopper the first time.

      Putting the kerosene in a plane's tank instead of a portable generator makes more sense.

      Delete
    2. A video of an earlier tail dragger version shows trailering in and putting together, presumably no need to fly in to get to the farm site:
      https://youtu.be/JzLXlsczVOo

      If you don't mind the "future of flight" lingo that every e-plane presentation seems to use and some concept CGI slipped in at 1:36-1:39 and after 1:46, the promo video is interesting:
      https://youtu.be/8ero-1ddAZ8

      Delete