# NTSB CHI98LA241: Rockwell S-2R, N4232X, Fort Ransom, ND, July 7, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 1998, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Ransom, ND - Coordinates: 46.519378, -97.930015 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5194&lon=-97.9300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10953/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA241 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's failure to ensure the airplane had enough fuel to complete the flight, and the fence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he had just completed spaying a bean field and was flying back to the airport when the airplane 'ran out of fuel.' Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed a total of 2 ounces of fuel in the left tank, and approximately 1 pint of fuel in the right tank. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 1998, at 0730 central daylight time (cdt), a Rockwell International S-2R, N4232X, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when during cruise flight the airplane's engine lost power. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane struck a fence. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was being conducted under 14 CFR part 137. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at Oakes, North Dakota, at 0645 cdt. In his written statement, the pilot said that he had just completed spaying a bean field and was flying back to the airport when the airplane "ran out of fuel." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane was resting upright in a field, just beyond a barbed wire fence, 5 miles southwest of Fort Ransom, North Dakota. The airplane's right wing showed a 6 inch wide tear in the bottom wing skin, beginning five feet inboard of the wingtip, at mid-chord, and running aft to the trailing edge. The right aileron's bottom skin also was torn open. The left wing was buckled at the wing tip. The forward spar was bent aft and slightly upward. The bottom wing skin showed two 6 inch wide tears, one 6 feet inboard, and the other 8 feet inboard of the wing tip, beginning at mid-chord, and running aft to the trailing edge. The left aileron showed a 6 inch wide gash in its bottom skin surface. The metal tubing at the empennage was bent downward and left. The tail wheel was bent to the left. One propeller blade was bent aft. The other blade was normal. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the engine, engine controls, or other airplane systems. Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed a total of 2 ounces of fuel in the left tank, and approximately 1 pint of fuel in the right tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4232X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4232X-2012-11-07), registration cancelled 2012-11-07, S/N 2000R, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rockwell 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: 192000 - Engines: Garrett TPE-331-6 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Widmer Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: 2D5, OAKES, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 4,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JMS, 292 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 19980707046669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980707046669A), Jul 7, 1998: Ayres S2R, Ft Ransom, ND, No damage. (-23) On 07/07/98 at 0730 CDT, rockwell S-2R, N4232X, owned by widmer flying service, inc. and flown by james f. plath was substantially damaged during an… ## Other investigations on N4232X (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 CHI05CA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA183), Jul 12, 2005: Rockwell S-2R (N4232X), Guelph, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance to the guy wire during the agricultural application pass. Contributing factors were the guy wire, and low altitude flight. 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.