Gassoway, LA, USA
N50075
Air Tractor AT-502B
During the short field takeoff, the airplane accelerated down the 2,000-foot long grass airstrip and became airborne in ground effect. After crossing over the departure end of the runway, the 6,710-hour commercial pilot attempted to release the load of fertilizer in the hopper. Subsequently, the main landing gear struck cotton plants and impacted the ground. The density altitude was calculated as 2,070 feet based on the outside air temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 75 degrees Fahrenheit, an altimeter setting of 30.03 inches of Mercury, and a field elevation of 125 feet.
On July 22, 2005, at 1905 central daylight time, a tail-wheel equipped Air Tractor AT-502B single-engine agricultural airplane, N50075, registered to an operated by Northeast Ag Flyers Inc., of Lake Providence, Louisiana, was substantially damaged during a takeoff overrun from a private airstrip near Gassoway, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual metrological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the site of the accident, the 6,710-hour pilot was departing on his 11th flight of the day from a 2,000-foot long and 75-food wide grass runway oriented on an east-west heading. During takeoff roll to the west, the tail of the airplane lifted-off the ground and began to settle as the airplane became airborne near the departure end of the runway. As the pilot pulled the emergency hopper dump lever in an attempt to dump the load of fertilizer, the main landing gear struck cotton plants approximately three feet in height. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain and started to slide to the right before it came to rest in an upright position. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that during takeoff, he initially used full flaps and gradually retracted the flaps during the takeoff roll. The FAA inspector added that the airplane was about 80 pounds under the maximum gross weight of the airplane. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the left flap was separated and the left wing was structurally damaged throughout its spar. The left main landing gear and tail-wheel were found separated from the fuselage. Based on the outside air temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 75 degrees Fahrenheit, an altimeter setting of 30.03 inches of Mercury, and a field elevation of 125 feet, the NTSB investigator-in-charge determined the density altitude was 2,070 feet.
The pilot's premature lift-off which resulted in an inadequate climb for terrain clearance. Also causal was the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff. A contributing factor was the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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