Ownership guide
Air Tractor AT-502B
323 registered in the US, built from about 1994 to 2023, 1 seats, most with the Pratt & Whitney PT6A. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.
The fleet
- Registered in the US
- 323
- Built
- 1994 to 2023
- Half built by
- 2008
- Seats
- 1
- Engine type
- Turboprop
- Most common engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A
Engines installed
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A314 aircraft (97%) · 24 ADs, 4 with a repeat action
From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.
Airworthiness Directives
9 current ADs name the AT-502B airframe, 6 with a repeat action; 6 more were superseded. Its engines carry 24 more.
The ones that come back
ADs with a repeat action: an inspection or replacement at an interval, for as long as the AD applies. These are the airworthiness costs an owner keeps paying.
- 2021-05-14Requires repetitive visual and dye penetrant inspections of the flap actuator attachment bracket welds for cracks and replacement if cracks are identifiedTe flap control system · AirplaneRepeat actionMar 25, 2021
- 2009-11-05Continue repetitively inspecting the engine mounts for cracks for all previously affected Air Tractor, IncAir Tractor, Inc. Models AT-400, AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-503A, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A Airplanes · AirplaneSupersedes 2008-10-12Repeat actionMay 22, 2009
- 2006-23-14Repetitively visually inspect the rudder and vertical fin hinge attaching structure (vertical fin skins, spars, hinges, and brackets) for loose fasteners, cracks, and/or corrosionAir Tractor, Inc. Models AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A Airplanes · AirplaneRepeat actionNov 16, 2006
- 2004-15-15Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-401, AT-401B, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-501, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-503A, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A AirplanesAirplaneSupersedes 2002-19-10Repeat actionJul 30, 2004
- 2003-07-04Repetitively inspect the vertical fin front spar fitting for cracks and replace any cracked fitting foundAir Tractor, Inc. Models AT-300, AT-400, AT-400A, AT-401, AT-401B, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-501, AT-502, and AT-502B Airplanes · AirplaneSupersedes 95-20-06Repeat actionApr 3, 2003
- 2001-10-04Requires inspection of the wing lower spar cap for cracks on Air Tractor, IncAir Tractor, Inc. AT-400, AT-500, and AT-800 Series Airplanes · AirplaneSupersedes 2000-14-51Repeat actionMay 16, 2001
What gets reported
2 Service Difficulty Reports since 2016: a mechanic or operator files one when a part fails or is found defective.
Systems reported most
- Main Landing Gear1
- Propeller Feathering/Reversing1
Parts reported most
- Cotter pin, missing1
- Bearing, cracked1
The latest reports
2026-07-07 · Main Landing Gear · Cotter pin, missing
During takeoff, the pic reported a buffering in the left brake just prior to takeoff. during landing, the pic reported a significant difference in braking authority between the right and left side which resulted in the aircraft departing the runway into the dirt. it was identified that the left wheel bearing, retaining nut, and cotter pin had separated from the aircraft for unknown reasons. it
2023-10-05 · Propeller Feathering/Reversing · Bearing, cracked
Prop originally removed for issues with prop not fully cycling through its full range of motion. had one blade that was not actuating properly. was taking longer than normal to go to feather. prop was delivered to northwest propeller service for overhaul. began disassembly and disconnected link arms. found blade 3 would not rotate freely and appeared to ratchet. the other 3 blades appeared to
From the FAA's Service Difficulty Reporting System, refreshed monthly. Counts of what was reported, not failure rates: most of general aviation reports voluntarily, and a busy training fleet reports more than a private one.
Accident record
63 accidents since 2008, 15 fatal (15 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 7 aircraft destroyed.
What happened
- Low altitude operation/event9
- Loss of control in flight7
- Midair collision6
- Collision during takeoff/land5
- Loss of engine power (total)4
- Loss of engine power (partial)3
Phase of flight
- Maneuvering28
- Takeoff17
- Landing6
- Initial climb3
- Enroute3
The latest
| Date | Where | What happened | Injuries | NTSB number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-07 | Ogden, UT | Landing: Part(s) separation from AC | None | WPR26LA249 |
| 2026-06-16 | Forbes, MO | Unknown: Unknown or undetermined | Fatal | ANC26FA054 |
| 2026-02-12 | Sulphur, LA | Landing: Midair collision | None | CEN26LA118B |
| 2025-08-10 | Goodland, KS | Landing: Loss of control in flight | None | CEN25LA314 |
| 2025-06-23 | Charleston, MO | Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight | Minor | CEN25LA219 |
| 2024-07-11 | Bonita, LA | Maneuvering: Midair collision | Fatal | CEN24FA260A |
From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.
What it costs to run
Per hour flown
Per year, flown or not
- Fuel
- $0/hr
- Engine reserve
- $0/hr
- A year
- $0
- All in, per hour
- $0/hr
Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Before you buy one
- Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
- For each repeat-action AD (6 on the airframe), find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
- Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
- Ask the mechanic doing the pre-buy to look hard at the main landing gear and for missing cotter pins: they are what gets reported most on this model.
- Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
- Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.
Questions
- How many Air Tractor AT-502Bs are registered in the US?
- 323, in the FAA aircraft registry.
- When was the Air Tractor AT-502B built?
- From about 1994 to 2023. Half of those registered today were built by 2008.
- What engine does the Air Tractor AT-502B have?
- Most have the Pratt & Whitney PT6A (97% of those registered).
- What are common problems with the Air Tractor AT-502B?
- In 2 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were main landing gear, propeller feathering/reversing, and the part most often reported was a missing cotter pin.
- How many accidents has the Air Tractor AT-502B had?
- 63 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 15 of them fatal. The most common defining event was low altitude operation/event. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
- How many Airworthiness Directives does the Air Tractor AT-502B have?
- 9 current ADs name the AT-502B airframe, 6 of them with a repeat action, and 24 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.
Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.