Thrush S2R N6216M

Summary

On 5 May 2022 at about 13:30 local time, a Thrush S2R registered N6216M was involved in an accident near Hawkinsville, Georgia, 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

5 May 2022 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hawkinsville, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

32.1688, -83.4299

Aircraft

Thrush S2R

Registration

N6216M

Category

Airplane

Year built

2017

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA239

Nobody was injured.

A failure of the electric main fuel pump due to the carbon brushes having completely worn away.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll for the aerial application flight, the airplane used more runway than normal, and that after takeoff it “didn’t seem to produce power as usual.” He began a right turn and noticed “the power and airspeed [were] slowing.” He checked the gauges and noticed that that the fuel pressure was fluctuating, and then turned on the emergency fuel pump. He then jettisoned the chemical load, and the airplane continued to descend until it impacted trees. A postaccident examination of the airplane found that the electric main fuel pump did not operate. Disassembly of the pump’s electric motor revealed that the carbon brushes had completely worn away, with no brush material remaining in either of the two brush holders. Examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Given that the pilot reported a longer than usual takeoff roll and a reduction in engine power throughout the flight, the pump may not have been operating properly or at all before takeoff. The reduction in power may have been due to the engine operating on only its internal fuel pump. The pilot did not report that the condition improved after he activated the emergency fuel pump. Whether or not the emergency pump had no effect or there was insufficient time to recover before the airplane struck trees could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.