ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 314882
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| Date: | Monday 5 June 2023 |
| Time: | 16:00 |
| Type: |  Air Tractor AT-502B |
| Owner/operator: | Wheeler Ridge Aviation Inc |
| Registration: | N6174W |
| MSN: | 502B-0351 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1996 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 8699 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Bakersfield, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Wheeler Ridge Aviation Airport, CA (Company Airstrip) |
| Wheeler Ridge Aviation Airport, CA (Company Airstrip) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
According to the pilot, he configured the flaps to 20° while he waited for the aerial application airplane to take on 50 gallons of fuel and 400 pounds of fertilizer. He taxied onto the 2,600 ft long asphalt runway, for his 4th aerial application flight of the day. The pilot applied brakes and full power before he released the brakes to initiate the takeoff roll. About 1,300 ft down the runway, the airplane remained on the ground. The pilot applied back pressure to the control stick and the airplane ascended about 10 feet above ground level. The airplane would not climb, and the pilot applied full flaps. The airplane subsequently settled back onto the remaining 1/3rd of the runway. The pilot reported that he did not observe any cockpit instrument cautions or warnings illuminated. The airplane overran the departure end of the runway and collided with trees.
The manufacturer’s airplane flight manual (AFM) contains a warning that stated, when taking off from a short-field runway, full flaps should not be used during the takeoff sequence. The use of full flaps creates large amounts of drag, lengthens the ground roll, and impairs climb performance.
The pilot submitted an NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, but did not include pages 9 and 10, which encompassed the pilot’s narrative, and his assertion regarding a mechanical malfunction during the sequence of events
Probable Cause: The pilot’s improper use of flaps during the takeoff sequence which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with trees.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/pilot-ok-after-crop-duster-goes-down-in-orchard-south-of-bakersfield/
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192320
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N6174W
Location
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 06-Jun-2023 14:31 | AgOps | Added |
| 06-Jun-2023 15:58 | AgOps | Updated |
| 07-Jun-2023 14:16 | johnwg | Updated |
| 28-Jun-2023 17:45 | Captain Adam | Updated |
| 06-Apr-2024 15:58 | Captain Adam | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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