What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Description of deviation: on July 26, 2020 the pilot in command (PIC) of N3105U, Ayres-S2R made a forced landing in a field in the vicinity of Morris, IL while conducting aerial application.
Casual and /or contributing factors: the PIC privacy data omitted stated he had finished the application; however, he had 10 gallons of spray left in the aircraft. privacy data omitted Attempted to spray the last 10 gallons over the field to empty the aircraft prior to ending his day. The field has a terrace in the middle of the field that is approximately 20 feet higher than the surrounding field. At 135 mph, N3105U hit a tree in the terrace. privacy data omitted Stated that the tree blended in with the trees on the FAR side of the field. Once the booms hit the corn all lift was lost. The aircraft was approximately 300 feet from the trees on the north end of the field. privacy data omitted Was able to bring the aircraft to a stop at the end of the tree line with the aircraft only incurring minor damage.
Recommendations: privacy data omitted stated that he was considering retirement at the end of next year. With this incident, privacy data omitted stated that he would be transferring all his fields over to another local operator, parting out his aircraft and surrendering his 137 ag certificate. privacy data omitted Also stated that fatigue may have been a factor. privacy data omitted Was counseled on being more vigilant when surveying fields and the risks of flying fatigued.
Comments: privacy data omitted was compliant throughout the investigation. This case is considered closed with compliance action counseling (ptrs GL03202005202)
As the FAA filed it
DESCRIPTION OF DEVIATION: ON JULY 26, 2020 THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) OF N3105U, AYRES-S2R MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD IN THE VICINITY OF MORRIS, IL WHILE CONDUCTING AERIAL APPLICATION.
CASUAL AND /OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: THE PIC ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED HE HAD FINISHED THE APPLICATION; HOWEVER, HE HAD 10 GALLONS OF SPRAY LEFT IN THE AIRCRAFT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ATTEMPTED TO SPRAY THE LAST 10 GALLONS OVER THE FIELD TO EMPTY THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO ENDING HIS DAY. THE FIELD HAS A TERRACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET HIGHER THAN THE SURROUNDING FIELD. AT 135 MPH, N3105U HIT A TREE IN THE TERRACE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT THE TREE BLENDED IN WITH THE TREES ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE FIELD. ONCE THE BOOMS HIT THE CORN ALL LIFT WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM THE TREES ON THE NORTH END OF THE FIELD. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS ABLE TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT TO A STOP AT THE END OF THE TREE LINE WITH THE AIRCRAFT ONLY INCURRING MINOR DAMAGE.
RECOMMENDATIONS: ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE WAS CONSIDERING RETIREMENT AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR. WITH THIS INCIDENT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE WOULD BE TRANSFERRING ALL HIS FIELDS OVER TO ANOTHER LOCAL OPERATOR, PARTING OUT HIS AIRCRAFT AND SURRENDERING HIS 137 AG CERTIFICATE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ALSO STATED THAT FATIGUE MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS COUNSELED ON BEING MORE VIGILANT WHEN SURVEYING FIELDS AND THE RISKS OF FLYING FATIGUED.
COMMENTS: ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS COMPLIANT THROUGHOUT THE INVESTIGATION. THIS CASE IS CONSIDERED CLOSED WITH COMPLIANCE ACTION COUNSELING (PTRS GL03202005202)
Other reports on N3105U · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.