- Date
- December 13, 1995, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- West Helena, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N3090CAyres S2R-T34
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 7, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951213040459A
- Case key
- 19726
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Binding of the power lever linkage, due to corrosion, which resulted in a situation that led to an inadvertent shut-down of the engine at a critical point on the approach to land. A factor relating to the accident was: inadequate maintenance.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was being ferried to West Helena, Arkansas, to accomplish an annual inspection. As it approached the destination airport, the pilot attempted to retard the power to enter the traffic pattern, but the power lever would not respond to any input. The pilot made three approaches in attempts to land, but was unable to slow the airplane below 135 knots. On his fourth approach, he elected to move the condition lever from flight idle to ground idle. However, it inadvertently went past the idle stop, and the engine lost power. The airplane landed short of the runway and impacted trees. An examination of the fuel control system revealed the fuel control linkage was corroded. The pilot reported that the airplane had been washed at the end of each day and that the control linkage had been lubricated on a regular basis. After the accident, he recommended the control linkage be lubricated daily, while working with fertilizer or any other corrosive material.
Factual narrative
On December 13, 1995, at 1115 central standard time, an Ayers S2R-T34, N3090C, registered to Morrison Enterprises, and operated by Louisiana Delta Plantation as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 ferry flight, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near West Helena, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Jonesville, Louisiana, about one hour before the accident.
The pilot reported to a FAA inspector that, the airplane was being ferried to West Helena to comply with an annual inspection. As the airplane approached the destination airport, he attempted to retard the power to enter the traffic pattern. The power lever would not respond to any input.
The pilot further reported that, he made three attempts to land, but was unable since he was not able to slow the airplane below 135 knots. The pilot also stated that on his fourth attempt to land, he elected to move the condition lever from flight idle to ground idle. However, it inadvertently went past the idle stop and the engine lost power. The airplane landed short of the runway and impacted trees resulting in structural damage to the wings and engine mount.
The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Report the following information. An examination of the fuel control system revealed the fuel control linkage was corroded. The aircraft is washed at the end of each work day, and the control linkage is lubricated on a regular basis. However, the pilot recommends the control linkage should be lubricated daily after fertilizer or any other corrosive material is used.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3090C
- Reported as
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- T34-075DC
- Airframe hours
- 8,000
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-34AG, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Morrison Enterprises
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 6, 1995 · 1,000 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Jonesville, LA
- Destination
- HEE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 18,426 total · 10,800 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 20 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3090C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.