20031015024999A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Ayres S2RR3SNORMAL · Midland, TX · October 15, 2003

Date: October 15, 2003 · 16:15 local
Place: Midland, TX
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: TNPG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N4013Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW04LA009
Reported as: Ayres S2RR3SNORMAL
Reported engine: WSK PZL3S
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 30,000 total2,750 in this make and model200 in the last 90 days

N4013ZRegistration cancelled Nov 12, 2008 · Ayres S2R-R3SS/N R3S-002 · Built 1979 Airframe modelAyres S2R-R3S Engine modelWsk-Pzl PZL-3SReciprocating

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) On 10/15/2003, Ayres aircraft, N4013Z, crashed near Midland, Texas. The aircraft was being operated for aerial application of agricultural pesticide. The aircraft was piloted by james b. prater. Mr. Prater stated that while making his first spray pass the windshield became covered with engine oil, the engine began to lose power and the oil pressure gauge read zero PSI. Mr. Prater stated he immediately climbed and turned the aircraft to the left in an attempt to land in the field he was spraying. Not being able to see outside the aircraft he attempted to land and struck a culvert on the north service road of interstate (business) 20 with the tail wheel of the aircraft. The aircraft crossed the east and westbound lanes of business 20 then struck a telephone pole and the railroad track that parallels the highway. The aircraft came to rest inverted on the south service road of business 20. Further investigation revealed an oil line on the engine had ruptured.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON 10/15/2003, AYRES AIRCRAFT, N4013Z, CRASHED NEAR MIDLAND, TEXAS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED FOR AERIAL APPLICATION OF AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PILOTED BY JAMES B. PRATER. MR. PRATER STATED THAT WHILE MAKING HIS FIRST SPRAY PASS THE WINDSHIELD BECAME COVERED WITH ENGINE OIL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE READ ZERO PSI. MR. PRATER STATED HE IMMEDIATELY CLIMBED AND TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND IN THE FIELD HE WAS SPRAYING. NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OUTSIDE THE AIRCRAFT HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND AND STRUCK A CULVERT ON THE NORTH SERVICE ROAD OF INTERSTATE (BUSINESS) 20 WITH THE TAIL WHEEL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED THE EAST AND WESTBOUND LANES OF BUSINESS 20 THEN STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE RAILROAD TRACK THAT PARALLELS THE HIGHWAY. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED ON THE SOUTH SERVICE ROAD OF BUSINESS 20. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED AN OIL LINE ON THE ENGINE HAD RUPTURED.

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 FTW04LA009Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMidland, TXA loss of engine power due to a ruptured oil line. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.Oct 15, 2003 · Substantial damage