Ayres S2R-T34 N4017B
26 September 1990 · Thornton, Mississippi, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 26 September 1990 at about 14:14 local time, a Ayres S2R-T34 registered N4017B was involved in an accident near Thornton, Mississippi, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:14
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Thornton, Mississippi, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Registration
- N4017B
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Yazoo City → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA90FA190
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE IMPROPER DRILLING OF A HOLE IN THE SPAR CAP BY A MECHANIC RESULTING IN THE INITIATION OF FATIGUE CRACKING IN THE SPAR CAP AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE SPAR CAP AND INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE WING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED SEPARATION OF RIGHT WING WHILE PULLING UP FROM AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING RUN. WING SEPARATED DUE TO FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE BOTTOM SPAR CAP WHICH WAS THE RESULT OF A HOLE BEING DRILLED INTO THE CAP. THE HOLE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DRILLED INTO THE CAP DURING INSTALLATION OF A WING MOUNTED AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR, SIX YEARS AND 4,130 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS REMOVED 10 MONTHS LATER AND A PATCH WAS PLACED OVER THE AREA THE HOLE HAD BEEN DRILLED IN SPAR CAP. THE HOLE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN VISIBLE DURING INSPECTION UNLESS MECHANIC REMOVED PATCH.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Ayres S2R accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jun 1990 | Ayres S2R | McGregor, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 May 1990 | Ayres S2R-600 | Vero Beach, Florida, United States | Sunniland Aircraft Sales, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Ayres S2R | Visalia, California, United States | Gilbert Aviation Industries | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 May 1991 | Ayres S2R-T34 | Wheatley, Arkansas, United States | Christopher Broughton | Fatal | - |
| 20 Jul 1991 | Ayres S2R | Drayton, North Dakota, United States | Bonanza Valley Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1991 | Ayres S2R | Drayton, North Dakota, United States | Dakota Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 1990 | Beechcraft 400 | West Point, Mississippi, United States | Sara LEE Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1990 | Grumman G-164A | Mattson, Mississippi, United States | Howard Flying Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1990 | Rockwell S-2R | Alligator, Mississippi, United States | Masters Flying Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Mar 1990 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Rolling Fork, Mississippi, United States | Nicks Flying Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 31 Mar 1990 | Cessna P210N | Natchez, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Apr 1990 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Jackson, Mississippi, United States | Cottingham, Michael P | No injuries | - |