# NTSB DFW05CA166: Rockwell International S-2R, N8856Q, Watson, AR, June 11, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 11, 2005, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Watson, AR - Coordinates: 33.890823, -91.250648 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8908&lon=-91.2506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Little Rock, Arkansas - NTSB case key (mKey): 61757 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05CA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61757/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA166 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The 8,170-hour pilot reported that while performing aerial application of fertilizer on a field, the engine lost power. As the pilot initiated a forced landing to the cotton field he was spraying, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed that approximately two inches of fuel was in the right wing fuel tank. Prior to recovery of the airplane, a salvage team removed 20 gallons of fuel from the right wing fuel tank. Examination of the radial engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 2005, approximately 0900 central daylight time, a single-engine Rockwell International S-2R agricultural airplane, N8856Q, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while performing an aerial application near Watson, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from a private airstrip near Watson, Arkansas, at an unknown time. The 8,170-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that while on his second pass applying an aerial application of fertilizer on a field, the engine began to lose power. The pilot stated that he "began to dump my [the] load of 1,800 pounds of fertilizer" and attempted to line the airplane up with cotton rows. The pilot further stated that he was unable to line up on the cotton rows and that the airplane "started to stall" when he began to dump the fertilizer load. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground and skidded across the cotton rows to a stop in an upright position in a slightly right wing low attitude. Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left and right wing spars were bent at the wing root and both main landing gears were folded upwards. The FAA inspector stated that when the fuel tanks were checked using a wooden dipstick, the left wing fuel tank was empty and the right wing fuel tank contained about two inches of fuel. During recovery of the airplane, the salvage company reported that 20 gallons of fuel was drained from the right wing fuel tank prior to transport. Examination of the Pratt & Whitney R1340 series radial engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8856Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8856Q-2015-05-07), registration cancelled 2015-05-07, S/N 2342R, built 1977 (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: 2342R - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Doyan Moreland - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2005 - Departed: Watson, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; last flight review March 1, 2005; seat: center; flight hours: 8,170 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 8,170 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## 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 20050611011849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050611011849A), Jun 11, 2005: Ayres S2R, Watson, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 11, 2005 at approximately 0900 LCL a rockwell S-2R, registration number N8856Q, serial number 2342R conducting aerial application under 14 CFR… ## Other investigations on N8856Q (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 MKC88LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88LA159), Aug 15, 1988: Rockwell S-2R (N8856Q), Swifton, AR, substantial damage 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.