Air Tractor AT 802 N20361

Summary

On 12 June 2016 at about 12:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT 802 registered N20361, operated by Thompson Flying Service LLC, was involved in an accident near Cairo, 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.

Date

12 June 2016 at 12:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Cairo, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Cairo Rgnl (CIR)

Coordinates

37.0642, -89.2194

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 802

Registration

N20361

Category

Airplane

Year built

2011

Engines

1

Operator

Thompson Flying Service LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cairo → Cairo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA313

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to ensure that the tailwheel pin was in the locked position prior to the takeoff roll, resulting in a runway excursion, ground loop, and substantial damage.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll, the airplane "pulled hard to the left." He recalled that he applied full right rudder pedal and realized that he was approaching the end of the runway. He reported that he applied both brakes, he applied reverse thrust, the airplane exited the runway to the left and ground looped.  The pilot reported that he did not confirm that the tailwheel pin was locked, prior to the takeoff roll. He further reported that in the future, he will confirm that the tailwheel is locked by working the tail back and forth, and he will check the tailwheel for inhibiting buildup of fertilizer, grease and dirt that would prevent tailwheel pin actuation.  The right wing sustained substantial damage. Per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspector that arrived shortly after the accident occurred, the airplane was dispersing fertilizer as part of a 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 operation. The prolonged use of fertilizer coupled with dirt, will inhibit the tailwheel pin from locking in place. A photograph was taken shortly after the accident by the FAA Inspector revealing a canted tailwheel. The FAA Inspector reported that the mechanic that performed the inspection on the tailwheel assembly noted that the assembly was, "gummed up with fertilizer and the pin was not in place at the time of the ground loop.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.