# NTSB CEN13LA384: Ayres S2R-T34, N455JM, Heth, AR, June 28, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 28, 2013, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Heth, AR
- Coordinates: 35.116943, -90.48722 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1169&lon=-90.4872&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 10, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Little Rock FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87352
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA384
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87352/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87352
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA384

## Probable cause

The partial collapse of the right main landing gear during landing due to an improper previous weld repair to the right main landing gear and subsequent corrosion, which resulted in a loss of directional control and impact with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)
- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During landing, the right main landing gear hit a pothole on the runway and partially collapsed, which resulted in the pilot's loss of directional control. The pilot's efforts to regain directional control were unsuccessful, and the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright in a ditch on the right side of the runway. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination revealed undocumented, improper previous weld repairs to the right main landing gear, which led to undetected corrosion in that area.

## Factual narrative

On June 28, 2013, at 1210 central daylight time, N455JM, an Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 single engine turbo propeller airplane impacted terrain during landing at Blackfish Airstrip, Heth, Arkansas. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to Humphrey B Flying, LLC; Terre Haute, Indiana, and was operated by Hutcherson Flying, Inc.; Forrest City, Arkansas. Day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. The pilot stated that during landing his right main landing gear hit a pothole on the runway and directional control was lost when the right main landing gear partially collapsed. The pilot's efforts to correct the veer were unsuccessful and the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright in a ditch on the right side of the runway. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination disclosed undetected corrosion in area of previous weld repairs to the right main landing gear.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N455JM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N455JM-2021-01-12), registration cancelled 2021-01-12, S/N 6016, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AYRES CORPORATION S2R-T34
- Registry model: [Ayres S2R-T34](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-t34) (registry code 0970106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34ag) (registry code 52251, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6016
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 13306
- Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Hutcherson Flying Inc, doing business as Hutcherson Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner: Humphrey B Flying LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 2013, 72 hours before
- Departed: NONE, Heth, AR
- Destination: NONE, Heth, AR
- Airport: NONE, Blackfish Airstrip, runway 36, 1,800 × 30 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 16, 2013; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 125 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observed at: KAWM, 13 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 20130628010999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130628010999A), Jun 28, 2013: Ayres Corporation S2R-T34, Heth, AR, Substantial damage. On June 28, 2013 at 1210 CST, an ayers corporation S2R-T34, N455JM, owned by humphrey b flying, LLC, terre haute, Indiana, and being operated on contract under…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87352. 4.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396743&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of IIC's conversations with FAA Inspector and their on-scene findings (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405427&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20IIC%27s%20conversations%20with%20FAA%20Inspector%20and%20their%20on-scene%20findings-Master.PDF
- Record of IIC's conversations with the operator, the aircraft owner, and the pilot (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405476&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20IIC%27s%20conversations%20with%20the%20operator,%20the%20aircraft%20owner,%20and%20the%20pilot-Master.PDF
- Maps (item 4, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405426&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps-Master.PDF
- Weather Summary (item 5, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405425&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Right Main Landing Gear (FAA Photo) (item 6, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405430&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Right%20Main%20Landing%20Gear%20%20(FAA%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Right Main Landing Gear (FAA Photo) (item 7, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405429&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20Main%20Landing%20Gear%20%20(FAA%20Photo)-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.

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