Ayres S2R-G10 N4089Q

Summary

On 29 March 2000 at about 14:45 local time, a Ayres S2R-G10 registered N4089Q, operated by DRY Branch Farms, Inc., was involved in an accident near Leesburg, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 March 2000 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Leesburg, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

31.7297, -84.1706

Aircraft

Ayres S2R-G10

Registration

N4089Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

DRY Branch Farms, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA00LA123

1 person had minor injuries.

The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance during a spray pass resulting in the in-flight collision with the raised rows of the field.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the second spray pass, the main landing gears and the spray pump contact 6-8 inch raised rows at a 45-degree angle separating the left main landing gear and the spray pump. The pilot applied aft elevator input and cleared trees ahead but while climbing, he noted that the propeller stopped. The airplane then impact in an open field west of the first impact location. A witness reported seeing, 'lots of black smoke' from under the airplane during the climb after the ground contact. The pilot has a SODA due to no vision in his right eye. Examination of the engine at the manufacturer's facility with FAA oversight revealed that the propeller shaft coupler was fractured; no evidence of preimpact failure was noted when the coupler was examined by the NTSB Materials Laboratory. Examination of the engine and engine controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the engine was modified/overhauled and installed in the newly manufactured airplane on August 24, 1999. The airplane had accumulated approximately 29 hours since manufacture at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.