DFW05CA209

The 18,000-hour commercial pilot of an agricultural aerial application airplane departed a private airstrip at approximately 0855, with the airplane filled with 200 gallons of fuel, en-route to his job site. The pilot started his spraying runs and during a "steep climbing left turn," the engine lost power. The pilot lowered the wing flaps and turned the airplane into the wind; however, and after determining there were "obstacles" in his landing path, he continued the turn towards the west which resulted in landing with a quartering tailwind. The airplane stalled just above the ground, impacting the right gear and wing tip. The airplane came to rest in the upright position in a plowed field. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.

On August 9, 2005, approximately 0920 central daylight time, a single-engine Rockwell S-2R agricultural airplane, N7794V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Lyford, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Bennack Flying Service, Inc., of Lyford, Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local flight.

According to a written statement submitted by the 18,000-hour pilot, he departed a private airstrip at approximately 0855, with the airplane filled with 200 gallons of fuel, en-route to his job site. The pilot stated, that he started his spraying runs and during a steep climbing left turn, experienced an engine failure. The pilot lowered the flaps and turned into the wind; however, after determining there were "obstacles" in his landing path, he continued the turn towards the west, which resulted in landing with a quartering tailwind. The pilot further stated that the airplane stalled just above the ground, impacting the right gear and wing tip.

An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who traveled to the scene of the accident, revealed structural damage to the right wing. Additional photos of the airplane, showed the right main landing gear collapsed upward, toward the right wing. The airplane came to rest upright in a plowed field. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.

At 0852, the automated weather observing system at Valley International Airport (HRL), approximately 18 miles south of the accident site, reported wind from 160 degrees at 18 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 2,300 feet, 88 Fahrenheit, dew point 73 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of Mercury.