- Date
- August 12, 1996, 12:18 local (17:18 UTC)
- Place
- Wharton, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3084XAyres S-2R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 29, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960812022529A
- Case key
- 19940
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
total loss of engine power due to a fractured torque sensor shaft. Factors relating to the accident were: the obstructions (fence and trees) in the emergency landing area.
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 pilot was returning from an aerial application mission, when the engine lost total power. During a forced landing, the airplane struck a fence and a tree, which damaged the right wing, the main landing gear, and the left fuel tank. An examination and teardown of the engine revealed that the torque sensor shaft was fractured.
Factual narrative
On August 12, 1996, at 1218 central daylight time, an Ayres S2R-R1340, N3084X, registered to and operated by Farm and Ranch Aerial Service Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of power near Wharton, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The airline transport rated pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The flight originated from the Flying-S Ranch, at 1000.
According to the operator, the pilot was returning from applying Mythallon to a field when the engine lost total power. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a fence and a tree and came to a stop in a pasture.
An examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed the right wing twisted at the midsection, the right wing front and aft spars were bent, the main landing gear were damaged, and the left fuel tank was compromised.
An examination and teardown of the Garret TPE331-6-252M turbine engine by the operator revealed the torque sensor shaft was fractured.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3084X
- Reported as
- Ayres S-2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- R-1340
- Airframe hours
- 1,240
- Engine
- Garrett TPE-331, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Farm And Ranch Aerial Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 8, 1996 · 600 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
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
- 47
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 16,854 total · 13,900 in this make and model · 16,155 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 203° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.