# Accident 20030609028529A: Ayres S2RG10, Maricopa, AZ, June 9, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 2003, 15:15 local time
- Place: Maricopa, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: C80G
- Location: 33.0853° N, 111.6464° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0853&lon=-111.6464&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6117X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6117X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ayres S2R-G10 (registry code 0970217, https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-g10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AYRES S2RG10
- Reported engine: GARRTT TPE33110
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,200 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA188) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030609028529A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) WHILE ENROUTE TO DISPENSE FERTILIZER AT A LOW ALTITUDE THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A PLOWED FIELD IN THE VICINITY OF MARICOPA AZ. THE PILOT FRED WORDON INDICATED THAT HE WAS DEALING WITH A TORQUE METER FAILURE WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO CRASH IN THE FIELD. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AND ALL SYSTEMS FAILED TO FIND A CAUSE OF AN ENGINE FAILURE, HOWEVER THE CAUSE OF THE TORQUE METER FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILED GASKET ON THE COMBUSTION CASE DIRECTING HOT GASES AGAINST THE TORQUE METER CANNON PLUG MELTING THE SOLDER AND SHORTING THE WIRES. THE ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN BY HONEYWELL AND DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN RUNNING AT THE TIME THE ENGINE STRUCK THE GROUND BASED ON EVALUATION OF DEPOSITS ON THE HOT SECTION COMPONENTS I.E. VANES AND TURBINE BLADES. THE FAILURE OF THE TORQUE METER AND THE PILOTS ATTENTION BEING DRAWN TO RESETTING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TWICE IN FLIGHT MAY HAVE DRAWN HIS ATTENTION AWAY FROM FLYING THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED AT THE AIR TRANSPORT YARD IN PHOENIX ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THREE EVALUATIONS BY HONEYWELL WERE ATTENDED BY FAA IIC OVER A FIVE MONTH PERIOD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX03LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA188), Jun 9, 2003: Ayres S2R-G10 (N6117X), Maricopa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance/altitude from terrain during an aerial application, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. A factor associated with the accident is the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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