Ayres S2R-T-34 N4011G

Summary

On 8 May 1997 at about 03:25 local time, a Ayres S2R-T-34 registered N4011G was involved in an accident near Tonopah, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 May 1997 at 03:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Tonopah, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.4294, -113.0494

Aircraft

Ayres S2R-T-34

Registration

N4011G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Buckeye → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

LAX97LA182

Nobody was injured.

the failure of the power turbine due to an overtemperature condition created by an improperly adjusted fuel control. A factor in the accident was the tripped circuit breaker which prevented the wing lights from operating during the forced night landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was en route back to his landing strip after night spraying when the aircraft lost engine power. He also saw flames and debris coming from the exhaust stacks. The circuit breaker popped when he attempted to turn on the wing lights so he continued the approach without lights. During rollout, the aircraft struck an unseen irrigation ditch and the gear collapsed. An inspection showed evidence of heat and blade damage to the power turbine. The fuel control adjustment was found in the full rich position. There was no evidence of FOD to the compressor rotor and stator assemblies. The engine had a hot section inspection as a result of a previous sudden engine stoppage incident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.