# NTSB CEN12LA357: Rockwell International S-2R, N8421V, Howard, SD, May 23, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 23, 2012, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Howard, SD - Coordinates: 44.029167, -97.53778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0292&lon=-97.5378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 83928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA357 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83928/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83928 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA357 ## Probable cause A fractured fabricated aluminum oil line, which resulted in oil exhaustion followed by a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Eng oil sys (airframe furnish): eng oil dist (airframe furn)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057920): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057920/cases.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057920/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The engine had recently been installed under a supplemental type certificate and had accrued 2 hours flight time before the accident. The pilot said that he took off on the test flight and adjusted the throttle and propeller control for climb. He noticed low oil pressure and a loss of propeller pitch control. In his attempt to return to the airport, the airplane started to settle and lose altitude. He made a forced landing in a rough pasture. The right wing struck terrain, which damaged the spar, and the airplane nosed down. Postaccident examination revealed a fractured aluminum line where it attached to the propeller governor, resulting in a loss of oil and oil pressure. Only two quarts of oil remained in the crankcase. The fractured line had been fabricated during the engine installation. Maintenance personnel said they should have installed more Adel clamps to secure the line and minimize vibrations. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2012, about 1045 mountain daylight time, the pilot of a Rockwell International S-2R, N8421V, made a forced landing in a pasture about 1.5 miles southwest of Howard (K8D9) Municipal Airport, Howard, South Dakota. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by East River Air Spray, LLC, Volga, South Dakota, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a test flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated about 1040. The engine had recently been installed under STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) SA01980CH, and had accrued 2 hours flight time prior to the accident. According to the pilot's statement and accident report, he took off on the test flight and when he adjusted the throttle and propeller control for climb, he noticed low (40 psi, pounds per square inch) oil pressure and a corresponding loss of propeller pitch control. He decided to return to the airport but the airplane started to settle and lose altitude. He barely cleared a power line and fence and made a forced landing in a rough pasture. The right wing struck terrain, damaging the spar, and the airplane nosed down. Postaccident examination revealed a fractured aluminum line where it attaches to the propeller governor. This resulted in a loss of oil and oil pressure. Only 2 quarts of oil remained in the crankcase. The fractured line had been fabricated during the engine installation, and FAA Form 337, dated April 25, 2012, had been filed. Maintenance personnel told FAA inspectors they should have installed more Adel clamps to secure the line and minimize vibrations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8421V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8421V), registered now, S/N 2181R (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S-2R - Registry model: [Rockwell International S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r) (registry code 7630202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2181R - Airframe hours: 8776 - Engines: P&W R-1340-59 900 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: East River Air Spray - Registered owner: East River Air Spray LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 2012 - Departed: K8D9, Howard, SD - Destination: K8D9, Howard, SD - Airport: K8D9, Howard Municipal ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 4 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KMHE, 30 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 20120523010709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120523010709A), May 23, 2012: Rockwell International S-2R, Howard, SD, Substantial damage. On 05/23/2012 at 12:30 pm a thrush S-2R (N8421V) owned by east river air spray LLC. Was involved in an incident/emergency landing, while trying to return to… ## Other investigations on N8421V (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 MKC90LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA129), Jun 15, 1990: Rockwell S2R (N8421V), Tilton, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE ENGINE BLOWER(SUPERCHARGER). RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT/WET TERRAIN, WHERE THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED. ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83928. 1.5 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 958 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373348&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - E-Mails from FAA Inspectors (item 3, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373154&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mails%20from%20FAA%20Inspectors-Redacted.PDF - FAA Form 337 (Partial) (item 4, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373155&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Form%20337%20(Partial)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373448&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Ground path created during forced landing. Airplane is in background. (item 6, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Ground%20path%20created%20during%20forced%20landing.%20Airplane%20is%20in%20background.-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - N4821R after forced landing. Note oil spray on side of fuselage. (item 7, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20N4821R%20after%20forced%20landing.%20Note%20oil%20spray%20on%20side%20of%20fuselage.-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Aluminum line leading to propeller governor. (item 8, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Aluminum%20line%20leading%20to%20propeller%20governor.-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Fractured aluminum line inside nut at propeller governor. (item 9, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Fractured%20aluminum%20line%20inside%20nut%20at%20propeller%20governor.-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Right wing damage. (item 10, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373195&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Right%20wing%20damage.-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.