# NTSB ERA20LA333: Ayres S2R, N3298M, Jackson, TN, September 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 22, 2020, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Jackson, TN - Coordinates: 35.6923, -88.6834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6923&lon=-88.6834&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102031 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102031/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102031 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA333 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor his fuel supply, resulting in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, and a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0970111), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=0970111), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0970111), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=0970111), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0970111), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T45, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0970111), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was spreading crop seed on a field about 150-200 ft above ground level (agl) when the engine lost all power. He selected a road between trees and a powerline for a forced landing. The airplane reportedly stalled about 10 ft above the road, touched down hard, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its belly until the left wing struck a tree and the airplane came to a stop, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. Examination of the wreckage revealed no fuel in ether fuel tank, no fuel spillage, and only contained trace amounts of fuel in the fuel lines. At the time of the accident, the airplane had been in operation for about 3 hours, which the owner reported was the airplane’s maximum fuel endurance. The pilot reported that he normally used a cockpit-mounted timer to keep track of the airplane’s fuel endurance but did not normally fly the accident airplane, which was not equipped with this feature. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 2020, about 1530 central daylight time, an Ayres Corporation S2R-T45, N3298M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Jackson, Tennessee. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The pilot reported that he was spreading crop seed on a field about 150-200 ft above ground level (agl) when the engine lost all power. He continued over a subdivision and looked for a place to land the airplane. He selected a road between trees and a powerline. He attempted to slow the airplane as much as possible prior to the forced landing. According to the pilot, the airplane stalled about 10 ft above the road, touched down hard, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its belly until the left wing struck a tree and the airplane came to a stop. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. Structural damage to the forward fuselage and both wings was noted. The inspector reported that there was no odor of fuel at the scene and no evidence of fuel leakage around or under the wreckage. Removal of the fuel tank inspection panels revealed no fuel in either tank. Inspection of the main fuel line at the firewall and the high-pressure fuel line between the high-pressure pump and the fuel control unit revealed only trace amounts of fuel. When the wreckage was disassembled for recovery, personnel reported that there was no fuel found during this process. According to company records, the last fueling occurred at 1236, and the airplane was in continuous operation, including stops to replenish payload, since that refueling. The owner reported that the maximum fuel endurance under those circumstances would have been about 3 hours. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot was operating a different aircraft on the day of the accident as compared to the aircraft he normally flew. The aircraft involved in the accident had a significantly larger engine than the pilot was used to and, consequently, a higher fuel burn. When interviewing the pilot, he stated that he normally kept track of his fuel burn with the timer installed in the aircraft that he was used to operating. The accident aircraft did not have the same feature. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3298M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3298M-2022-05-05), registration cancelled 2022-05-05, S/N T45-010DC (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ayres S2R (T45) - Registry model: [Ayres S2R-T45](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-t45) (registry code 0970111) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T45-010DC - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 6650 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A 600 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: AirWorks LLC - Registered owner: Oops LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 2020 - Departed: MKL, Jackson, TN - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2020; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,577 total, 4,705 in this make and model, 6,432 as pilot in command, 649 in the last 90 days, 180 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: MKL, 13 nm away - METAR: KMKL 221953Z 07006KT 10SM CLR 20/13 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP217 T02000128 ## 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 20200922018689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200922018689A), Sep 22, 2020: Ayres Corporation S2R-T45, Jackson, TN, Substantial damage. The accident occurred on September 22, 2020 at approximately 3:30PM central daylight time. The pilot in command (PIC) of N3298M was engaged in aerial… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102031. 9.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11816490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - FAA statement 1 (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11815946&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20508%20Gottschalk%201-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - FAA statement 2 (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 575 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11816500&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20508%20Gottschalk%202-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - recovery team statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11816253&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20AMF%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpt - airframe logbook (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11816412&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=7%20Annual%20Airframe%20Log_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpt - engine logbook (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11816313&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=8%20Annual%20Engine%20Log_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 882 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11816422&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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. --- 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.