20030521010799A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Ayres S2R · Willows, CA · May 21, 2003

Date: May 21, 2003 · 11:45 local
Place: Willows, CA
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: NHZG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5653X
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX03LA158
Reported as: Ayres S2R
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A20
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 8,000 total900 in this make and model150 in the last 90 days

N5653XRegistration cancelled Aug 15, 2013 · Aero Commander S2RS/N 1853R · Built 1973 Airframe modelAero Commander S2R Engine modelPratt & Whitney R1340 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Aircraft was applying copper sulfate to a field north of Willows, California. After application pass, pilot made a hard pull-up. The pilot reported that when he reached the top of the pull-up, the engine "sputtered". As he leveled off at about 400 ft. AGL, the engine quit. The pilot made an emergency landing in a dry field. The aircraft skidded about 100 ft. and went up on its nose. The pilot and sole occupant sustained minor injuries. The pilot reported taking on fuel 3 loads prior to the accident flight. He stated that the tanks looked full from the pilot's seat. To my knowledge, the fuel truck or the fuel in the aircraft were not checked for contamination prior to the accident flight. With NTSB concurrence, the aircraft was recovered by the owner and transported to his hanger in chico, California. NTSB contact: howard plagens (310) 380-5656. For details refer to sacfsdo file. This report will be amended as more information becomes available.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS APPLYING COPPER SULFATE TO A FIELD NORTH OF WILLOWS, CALIFORNIA. AFTER APPLICATION PASS, PILOT MADE A HARD PULL-UP. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE REACHED THE TOP OF THE PULL-UP, THE ENGINE "SPUTTERED". AS HE LEVELED OFF AT ABOUT 400 FT. AGL, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A DRY FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED ABOUT 100 FT. AND WENT UP ON ITS NOSE. THE PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE PILOT REPORTED TAKING ON FUEL 3 LOADS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT THE TANKS LOOKED FULL FROM THE PILOT'S SEAT. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE FUEL TRUCK OR THE FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT WERE NOT CHECKED FOR CONTAMINATION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. WITH NTSB CONCURRENCE, THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED BY THE OWNER AND TRANSPORTED TO HIS HANGER IN CHICO, CALIFORNIA. NTSB CONTACT: HOWARD PLAGENS (310) 380-5656. FOR DETAILS REFER TO SACFSDO FILE. THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED AS MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX03LA158Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWillows, CAA loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during an aerial application.May 21, 2003 · Substantial damage