Ownership guide
Air Tractor AT-802A
553 registered in the US, built from about 1995 to 2025, 2 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
- 553
- Built
- 1995 to 2025
- Half built by
- 2016
- Seats
- 2
- Engine type
- Turboprop
- Most common engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A
Engines installed
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A525 aircraft (95%) · 24 ADs, 4 with a repeat action
From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.
Airworthiness Directives
14 current ADs name the AT-802A airframe, 9 with a repeat action; 13 more were superseded.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.
- 2026-16-12Horizontal stabilizer structureAirplaneSupersedes 2024-16-06Repeat actionAug 14, 2026
- 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
- 2014-16-17WingsAirplaneSupersedes 2010-17-18 R1Repeat actionAug 25, 2014
- 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
- 2006-20-10Repetitively inspect the attach angles on the firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf for damage and/or cracks and replace damaged and/or cracked attach angles with steel attach anglesAir Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT-802A Airplanes · AirplaneRepeat actionSep 29, 2006
- 2005-13-12Repetitively tighten the four eyebolts that attach the front and rear spar of the horizontal stabilizer to the respective stabilizer strut to the specified torque, and repetitively replace at specified intervals any...Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-300, AT-301, AT-302, AT-400, AT-400A, AT-401, AT-402, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A Airplanes · AirplaneRepeat actionJun 22, 2005
- 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
- 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
11 Service Difficulty Reports since 2016: a mechanic or operator files one when a part fails or is found defective.
Systems reported most
- Wheel/Ski/Float2
- Starter-Generator2
- Propeller Governor1
- Propeller Hub Section1
- Agricultural Spray System1
- Elevator Tab Control System1
Parts reported most
- Starter gen, broken2
- Gasket, unknown1
- Thrust bearing, worn1
- Bolt, cracked1
- Switch, failed1
- Wheel, damaged1
The latest reports
2025-06-18 · Leading Edge Slat Actuator · Flex coupling, broken
An air tractor at802a was involved in a take-off incident, causing substantial damage. the pic looked to his left and right during takeoff and noticed the flaps were retracting uncommanded after selecting 20 degrees for takeoff. asi discovered that the flap actuator assembly coupling, part number b100-06, which serves as the connection between the electric flap motor and the actuator lying at the
2025-03-14 · Starter-Generator · Starter gen, broken
While performing starter generator brush inspection discovered brush retainer spring broken and arced against starter generator case
2025-03-03 · Starter-Generator · Starter gen, broken
While performing starter generator brush inspection found brush retainer spring broken and sheered brush lead causing arcing to generator case
2023-06-13 · Propeller Governor · Gasket, unknown
Aircraft had power section and governors overhauled after prop strike incident. first test run on aircraft after overspeed governor install, the new gasket was leaking from around a stud hole. we re-installed original gasket and no leak. this is the second one of these gaskets i know of with an issue.
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
36 accidents since 2008, 15 fatal (15 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 8 aircraft destroyed.
What happened
- Low altitude operation/event8
- Loss of control in flight5
- Midair collision3
- Collision with terrain or object (non-CFIT)3
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT)3
- Loss of engine power (total)2
Phase of flight
- Maneuvering25
- Landing3
- Takeoff3
- Enroute2
- Initial climb1
The latest
| Date | Where | What happened | Injuries | NTSB number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-23 | Walcott, IA | Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event | None | CEN25LA285 |
| 2025-03-28 | Cash, AR | Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event | None | CEN25LA140 |
| 2024-10-08 | Inguadona, MN | Landing: Landing gear not configured | None | CEN25LA008 |
| 2024-07-26 | Izee, OR | Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event | Fatal | WPR24FA255 |
| 2024-07-11 | Bonita, LA | Fatal | CEN24FA260B | |
| 2024-07-10 | Helena, MT | Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight | Fatal | WPR24FA238 |
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 (9 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 wheel/ski/float and for broken starter gens: 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-802As are registered in the US?
- 553, in the FAA aircraft registry.
- When was the Air Tractor AT-802A built?
- From about 1995 to 2025. Half of those registered today were built by 2016.
- What engine does the Air Tractor AT-802A have?
- Most have the Pratt & Whitney PT6A (95% of those registered).
- What are common problems with the Air Tractor AT-802A?
- In 11 Service Difficulty Reports filed with the FAA since 2016, the systems reported most were wheel/ski/float, starter-generator, propeller governor, and the part most often reported was a broken starter gen.
- How many accidents has the Air Tractor AT-802A had?
- 36 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-802A have?
- 14 current ADs name the AT-802A airframe, 9 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.