Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR AT504 near Big Cypress, FL — 2024-12-18

Final reportERA25LA079
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Date
2024-12-18
Location
Big Cypress, FL, USA
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR AT504
Registration
N8516V
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to depart with cargo outside of the designated baggage compartment, which resulted in the cargo interfering with the rudder control system.

NTSB narrative

During the first leg of a ferry flight the pilot reported that, while descending through 9,000 ft above ground level (agl), the airplane yawed left violently. Even with application of pressure to the right rudder pedal, the airplane continued in a left descending turn until impacting swampy terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and engine mounts. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a large amount of baggage and cargo had been zip-tied to the tubular metal fuselage structure aft of the baggage compartment and under the cockpit area. Multiple zip ties were found cut and others were found loose. The loose and cut zip ties were found in the vicinity and around a large piece of spray equipment that had been wrapped in plastic, as well as a box both, both of which could be moved by hand when pressure was applied. These items were in the vicinity of both the right rudder direct drive cable and the right rudder/aileron interconnect cable. The examination otherwise found no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Based on this information it is likely that the cargo shifted during the flight and interfered with the rudder control system, resulting in the rudder hard over. The weight and balance filled out by the pilot prior to the flight showed that he had accounted for cargo and baggage outside the airplane’s designated baggage compartment. While this showed that the airplane was likely being operated within its center of gravity envelope it, the pilot’s decision to operate the flight with cargo outside the designated area did not account for the potential that the cargo would shift in such a way that it could interfere with the flight controls.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Properly securing cargo to prevent interference with control systems.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 11 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents11

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