Rockwell S-2R N8468V

Summary

On 24 May 2012 at about 15:30 local time, a Rockwell S-2R registered N8468V, operated by Royal Flying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Royal City, Washington, 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

24 May 2012 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Royal City, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Royal Flying Service (8WA)

Coordinates

46.8900, -119.6006

Aircraft

Rockwell S-2R

Registration

N8468V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Royal Flying Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Royal City → Royal City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA229

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from an object during an aerial application, which resulted in damage to the landing gear and led to the airplane ground looping during the subsequent landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an aerial application pass, the pilot mistakenly descended the airplane too early and struck a pipe on a center pivot irrigation system. As a result, the left main landing gear sustained damage, and the pilot flew the airplane back to the airport to land. The pilot stated that the airplane ground looped upon touchdown due to the damaged landing gear. The airplane's left wing was damaged during the ground loop. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to striking the object.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.