# NTSB ERA09LA480: Ayres S2R-T34, N2292E, Donalsonville, GA, August 10, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2009, 15:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place: Donalsonville, GA
- Coordinates: 31.010833, -84.883056 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0108&lon=-84.8831&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74589
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA480
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74589/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74589
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA480

## Probable cause

The failure of the right main gear strut due to an improper weld repair by maintenance personnel.

## 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 · Failure (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)
- [Maintenance/inspections](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500/cases.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500/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: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, during landing the right main gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded off the runway to the right. Examination of the airplane found the right main gear failed at an improper weld repair on the main strut. A review of the Landing Gear Repair Manual 4-102, Page 4-73, AC 43.13-1B, showed that the repair of the landing gear should include the use of a two-piece reinforcement sleeve made of the same material and at least the same gauge as the damaged tube. The repair made on the main strut had neither, with a single bead of weld across a crack in the strut.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 2009, at 1525 eastern daylight time, an Ayers Corporation S2R-T34, N2292E, registered to Kent Croom Aviation, experienced a collapse of the right main landing gear during landing roll at a private airstrip in Donalsonville, Georgia. The aerial application flight was operated by the certificated commercial pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from the same private airstrip at 1500. According to the pilot, during landing the right main gear collapsed. The airplane skidded off the runway to the right. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found the right main gear failed at an improper weld repair made on the main strut. Damage to the airplane consisted of the right main gear and engine firewall. A review of the Landing Gear Repair Manual 4-102, Page 4-73, AC 43.13-1B, found that the repair of the landing gear should include the use of a two-piece reinforcement sleeve and made of the same material and at least the same gauge as the damaged tube. The repair made on the main strut had neither, just a bead of weld across the crack in the strut.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2292E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2292E-2011-04-25), registration cancelled 2011-04-25, S/N T34-256, built 1999 (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 PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T34-256
- Airframe hours: 6600
- Engines: P&W PT6A SER 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 2009, 66 hours before
- Departed: None, Donalsonville, GA
- Destination: None, Donalsonville, GA
- Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 10, 2009; seat: center; flight hours: 21,000 total, 14,000 in this make and model, 21,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 175 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: DHN, 38 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 20090810025419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090810025419A), Aug 10, 2009: Ayres Corpo S2R-T34, Donalsonville, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft upon landing on grass strip at main base of operations had the right gear collapse which caused the aircraft to leave the runway and contact ground…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74589. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 469 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports; Landing Gear Repair Manual (Excerpt). (item 2, .PDF, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports;%20Landing%20Gear%20Repair%20Manual%20(Excerpt).-Master.PDF
- FAA Digital Photo; Aircraft Wreckage (item 3, .PDF, 916 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo;%20Aircraft%20Wreckage-Master.PDF
- FAA Digital Photo, Strut Weld Failure. (item 4, .PDF, 954 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325727&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo,%20Strut%20Weld%20Failure.-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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