Hard landing Accident Air Tractor AT-502B N502PB, Saturday 20 October 2012

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Date:	Saturday 20 October 2012
Time:	09:00 LT
Type:	Air Tractor AT-502B
Owner/operator:	Double R Flight Service Inc
Registration:	N502PB
MSN:	502B-0500
Year of manufacture:	1998
Total airframe hrs:	9059 hours
Engine model:	P&W Canada PT6A-34AG
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Newton, Georgia - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Colquitt, GA
Destination airport:	Colquitt, GA
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The pilot stated that he was performing an agricultural application over a cotton field bordered by a set of power lines. After making a pass over the field, the pilot ascended to fly over the power lines. While turning back toward the field, he 'misjudgedâ€ the location of a static cable. The airplane's main landing gear contacted the cable, and the airplane entered a rapid descent. The pilot initiated a forced landing in the cotton field, resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight.

Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering, which resulted in a hard forced landing.

Accident investigation: