# NTSB CEN11CA545: Ayres S2R-G6, N331BF, Forest City, IA, July 28, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 28, 2011, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Forest City, IA - Coordinates: 43.234722, -93.623886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2347&lon=-93.6239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81392 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA545 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81392/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81392 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA545 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during an aerial application run, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a windmill. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=0970216), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=0970216), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G6, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0970216), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G6, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0970216), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an aerial application flight, the pilot had completed a spray run and initiated a climb to clear trees at the end of the field. The pilot reported that several trees and windmills were located at the southern end of the field and as the airplane made a climbing left turn, the right wing struck a windmill blade. The collision tore the spray boom from the airplane, which then impacted the airplane’s right side stabilizer and fuselage, causing substantial damage. The pilot was able to perform a successful landing on a nearby gravel road. ## Factual narrative The agricultural pilot had completed a spray run and pulled up to clear trees at the end of the field. The pilot reported that several trees and windmills were located at the southern end of the field and as the airplane made a climbing left turn, the right wing struck a windmill blade. The collision tore the spray boom from the airplane, which then impacted the airplane’s right side stabilizer and fuselage, causing substantial damage. The pilot was able to perform a successful precautionary landing on a nearby gravel road. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N331BF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N331BF), registered now, S/N G6-102, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AYRES CORPORATION S2R-G6 - Registry model: [Ayres S2R-G6](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-g6) (registry code 0970216) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331-5&6SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-5-6ser) (registry code 01515, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: G6-102 - Airframe hours: 7000 - Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE331-5&6SER 776 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Central Balley Aviation - Registered owner: Central Balley Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 2011 - Departed: Forest City, IA - Destination: Forest City, IA - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 7,400 total, 240 in this make and model, 280 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KFXY ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110728016389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110728016389A), Jul 28, 2011: Ayres Corporation S2R-G6, Garner, IA, Substantial damage. Airman had been conducting aerial application on a field from east to west. He finished and was spraying the headlands (trim borders) on the field from north… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81392. 564 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 471 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353005&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353007&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo: Damaged airplane (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353008&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Damaged%20airplane-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.