# Accident 20230307001789A: Rockwell International S-2R, Willows, CA, March 7, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 7, 2023, 17:21 local time
- Place: Willows, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: J2OG
- Location: 39.4995° N, 122.2852° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4995&lon=-122.2852&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8424V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8424V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Rockwell International S-2R (registry code 7630202, https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S-2R
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 25,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23FA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA122) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230307001789A

## Narrative

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

EVIDENCE OF THE WRECKAGE FROM ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING EASTBOUND PERPENDICULAR TO POWER LINES WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL APLICATION TO AN ALMOND ORCHARD. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE BOTTOM POWER LINES APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS SOUTH FROM THE POINT OF GROUND IMPACT. GROUND SCARS INDICATE THAT THE POWER LINES GOT WRAPPED UP IN THE PROPELLER HUB WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO BE THROWN ABOUT 150 DEGREES FROM THE POINT OF IMPACT WITH THE LINES. SIGNATURES FROM THE PROPELLER AND POWER LINE CABLES THAT WERE WRAPPED IN THE PROPELLER AND HUB INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME OF WIRE IMPACT. AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND INVERTED WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 WPR23FA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA122), Mar 8, 2023: Rockwell International S-2R (N8424V), Willows, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines while flying under multiple conductors during a low-altitude aerial application flight, which resulted in propeller contact with a powerline…

## Other reports on N8424V (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19810504022079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810504022079A), May 4, 1981: Ayres S2R (N8424V), Williams, CA, Substantial damage. Engine lost power during ag operation. Landed in rice field, nosed over. Found broken engine cylinder.

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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