Accident Details
On June 4, 2012, about 0930 central daylight time, an Air Tractor Inc AT-401, registration N4547Q, impacted terrain during an aborted takeoff on runway 26 at Kenmare Municipal Airport (7K5), Kenmare, North Dakota. The commercial pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The airplane was registered to the pilot and operated by Northern Ag Service under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to spray fungicide on winter wheat. The airplane weight was 7,723.5 pounds; its maximum gross weight was 8,000 pounds. During the takeoff roll on runway 26 (3,700 feet by 60 feet, dry asphalt), the pilot decided to abort the takeoff when the airplane was about halfway down the runway, or about 1,900 feet. The engine instrument indications of 96 percent torque and 645 degrees inter-turbine temperature "looked ok." The pilot stated he aborted because the airplane "did not feel like it was going to fly." As the airplane slowed and about three-quarters down the runway (about 2,775 feet), he placed the engine power lever in reverse. The airplane ground looped 180 degrees. The pilot stated that if he had dumped the fungicide, he could have possibly avoided the accident.
Aircraft Examination
According to a Federal Aviation inspector, examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.