Pilot Debrief

Air Tractor AT-504 near Fort Morgan, CO — 2020-02-08

Final reportCEN20CA079
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Date
2020-02-08
Location
Fort Morgan, CO, USA
Airport
FMM
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-504
Registration
N970FA
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in the left main landing gear tire bursting and the tailwheel assembly failing.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot on the controls in the left seat, the right seat pilot was familiarizing him with the airplane. The airplane bounced during landing on the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane veered left, and he overcorrected to the right, followed by an overcorrection to the left. He applied heavy braking, and the airplane turned 120° to the right. The side load on the left main landing gear tire resulted in it bursting. The wheel rim then dug into the runway, the airplane bounced, the tailwheel assembly failed, and the tail spring steel strut then dug into the soft surface. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and the empennage.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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