# NTSB FTW03LA159: Ayres S2R-G6, N6136Z, Palestine, AR, May 25, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 2003, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Palestine, AR - Coordinates: 34.983333, -90.915 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9833&lon=-90.9150&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57047 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57047/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=57047 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA159 ## Probable cause The shearing of the torsion shaft which resulted in a loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - turboshaft engine,power output shaft - sheared (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis Upon completing an aerial application of a field, the pilot was returning to a private airstrip to reload the hopper and refuel. During the return flight, the airplane "felt like it tried to nosedive." The pilot stated that he checked the power settings, extended the flaps, and initiated a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a levee and came to rest upright. Examination of the engine revealed that torsion shaft was fractured at the shear point. ## Factual narrative On May 25, 2003, approximately 1315 central daylight time, an Ayres S2R-G6 single-engine agricultural airplane, N6136Z, sustained substantial during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Palestine, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Chism Flying Service, Inc., near Brinkley, Arkansas. 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 departed a private airstrip near Brinkley at an unknown time and was returning to the airstrip at the time of accident. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), after completing an aerial application of a chemical fertilizer, the pilot was returning to the private airstrip to reload the hopper and refuel the airplane. During the return flight, "the airplane felt like it tried to nosedive." The pilot checked the power settings, extended the flaps, and initiated a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a levee and came to rest upright. Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported the left wing and both flaps were bent. On June 3, 2003, at the facilities of Kelner Turbine, a FAA certified repair station, near Neosho, Missouri, the Garrett TPE-331-6 engine was disassembled and examined for subsequent repair. The examination revealed that the torsion shaft was fractured at the shear point on the shaft. According to the examination report, " the torsion shaft sheared thus uncoupling the power section from the gearbox. With nothing driving the gearbox the engine would begin to spool down because the fuel pump will not have enough pressure to keep it running. This is when [the mechanic] feel the pilot noticed no response from the throttle. The emergency stop and feather lever was not pulled therefore the prop[eller] did not go to the feather position. The result is a flat-pitched prop[eller], which causes enormous drag that made the nose of the aircraft pitch down just as the pilot reported." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6136Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6136Z), registered now, S/N G6-138, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ayres S2R-G6 - Registry model: [Ayres S2R-G6](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-g6) (registry code 0970216) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: G6-138 - Engines: Garrett TPE-331-6 860 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Chism Flying Service, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Brinkley, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 4, 2003; seat: center; flight hours: 1,500 total, 70 in this make and model, 1,450 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 13 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: SGT, 41 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 20030525014629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030525014629A), May 25, 2003: Swrngn S2RG6, Palestine, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) After spraying a field, aircraft was returning to an air strip the fuel was almost empty and the engine quit on last pass. Aircraft had to land in a… ## Other investigations on N6136Z (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 CEN24LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA291), Jul 26, 2024: Ayres S2R-G6 (N6136Z), Antioch, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination from an undetermined source. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=57047. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423661&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Kelner Turbine - Engine Exam Report (item 2, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423662&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Kelner%20Turbine%20-%20Engine%20Exam%20Report-Redacted.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.