Air Tractor AT 502B N502JS

Summary

On 13 June 2014 at about 18:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT 502B registered N502JS, operated by Michaud Aviation, was involved in an accident near Princeton, California, 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

13 June 2014 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Princeton, California, United States

Coordinates

39.3931, -122.0356

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 502B

Registration

N502JS

Category

Airplane

Year built

1994

Engines

1

Operator

Michaud Aviation

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Princeton → Princeton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14LA245

Nobody was injured.

The partial loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during takeoff from a dirt airstrip, the airplane lifted off normally but that, when it reached an altitude of about 10 to 15 ft above the ground, it felt like the engine was experiencing a partial loss of power. The airplane then settled toward the ground. The pilot added full power, but it still felt like the engine was only producing partial power. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was test run at various power settings with no anomalies noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.