# NTSB CEN12LA260: Thrush S2R-H80, N510KW, Bryan, TX, April 25, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 25, 2012, 10:52 local (15:52 UTC) - Place: Bryan, TX - Coordinates: 30.554166, -96.438331 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5542&lon=-96.4383&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83489 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83489/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83489 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA260 ## Probable cause The pilot's diverted attention, which resulted in a loss of control while maneuvering the airplane at a low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thrush S2R-H80, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=8380310), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thrush S2R-H80, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8380310), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Thrush S2R-H80, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=8380310), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Thrush S2R-H80, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=8380310), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Thrush S2R-H80, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8380310), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Thrush S2R-H80, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8380310), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Thrush S2R-H80, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8380310), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While maneuvering at a low altitude, the pilot attempted to retrieve a coffee cup that had become loose and was rolling around on the cockpit floor, and the airplane entered a nose-down descent. The pilot attempted to arrest the descent, but he did not have sufficient altitude to regain control of the airplane before it impacted the ground. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On April 25, 2012, about 1052 central daylight time, a Thrush Aircraft Inc. S2R-H80, N510KW, descended and impacted terrain near Bryan, Texas. The pilot was trying to retrieve a dropped item in the cockpit when the airplane began the descent. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The airplane was registered to and operated by Thrush Aircraft Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a test flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight that originated from Coulter Field Airport (CFD), Bryan, Texas, at time unknown. The pilot, who was employed by the operator, stated that he departed CFD for the field site where agricultural spray pattern testing was to be performed. Upon arrival at site, the wind had shifted so equipment had to be rearranged. He started flying orbits to wait for the equipment to be set up while maintaining a low altitude to stay beneath overlying airspace. A coffee cup came loose and started rolling around floor. He leaned over to try to secure the cup and then felt aircraft roll to the right. By the time he sat back up, the airplane had entered a nose-down, right roll. He leveled the wings and attempted to pull the nose up, but he did not have enough altitude to recover. The airplane impacted the ground in a slight nose-up, wings-level attitude and airplane slid to a stop. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. A witness reported that he saw the airplane making a low pass about 10-20 feet above the ground. The airplane then went into a steep pull up and entered a 70-90 degree bank, followed by the wings leveling. The witness then saw the airplane at an altitude of about 300 feet above ground level when it pitched down about 10 degrees and then pitch up and bank. The airplane continued to roll until it returned to level flight. The nose of the airplane struck the ground in a 10 degree nose down attitude with the wings level. The airplane slid along the ground for about 100 feet and turned 90 degrees before stopping. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N510KW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N510KW-2012-05-15), registration cancelled 2012-05-15, S/N H80-104 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THRUSH AIRCRAFT INC S2R-H80 - Registry model: [Thrush S2R-H80](https://openairdocs.org/model/thrush-s2r-h80) (registry code 8380310) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: H80-104 - Engines: General Electric H-80 800 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Thrush Aircraft Inc. - Registered owner: Thrush Aircraft Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CFD, Bryan, TX - Destination: CFD, College Station, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: center; flight hours: 5,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: CLL, 5 nm away ## 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 20120425005899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120425005899A), Apr 25, 2012: Thrush Aircraft Inc S2R-H80, College Station, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot was demonstrating the aircrafts to the united states department of agriculture (usda). He was manuvering and had dropped his gps/bluetooth headset… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 11, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83489. 928 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 884 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387012&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.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.