# NTSB GAA17CA459: Rockwell International S 2R, N4886X, McRae, GA, July 27, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 27, 2017, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: McRae, GA - Coordinates: 32.094444, -82.880554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0944&lon=-82.8806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 27, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95728 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA459 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95728/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95728 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA459 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in tailwind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during an agricultural application flight and after he had completed two spray passes, he received a call from his ground crew, which informed him that he did not have enough chemicals to complete the application. Because of his heavy load, the position of his load pad, and the runway slope, the pilot chose to land with a tailwind. The pilot reported that he approached with a higher-than-normal airspeed and touched down about 1,500 ft from the approach end of runway 21. As the tailwheel came down, the airplane rolled over a depression in the runway, which unloaded the weight on the landing gear, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot was unable to regain directional control before the airplane departed the runway and went over an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located about 14 nautical miles northwest of the accident site reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 50° at 6 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during an aerial application flight, after he had completed two spray passes, he received a call from his ground crew, which informed him that he did not have enough chemicals to complete the aerial application. Because of his heavy load, the position of his load pad, and the slope in the runway, the pilot chose to land with a tail wind. The pilot reported that he approached with a higher than normal airspeed and touched down about 1,500 ft from the approach end of runway 21. As the tailwheel came down, the airplane rolled over a depression in the runway, which unloaded the weight on the landing gear, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot was unable to regain directional control before the airplane departed the runway and over an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located about 14 nautical miles northwest of the accident site reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 50° at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4886X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4886X-2022-12-03), registration cancelled 2022-12-03, S/N 2087R, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S 2R (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Rockwell International S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r) (registry code 7630202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2087R - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 8875.31 - Engines: Walter M601E-11 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 17, 2017 - Departed: 48A, COCHRAN, GA - Destination: MQW, McRae, GA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: MQW, Telfair-Wheeler, runway 21, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2016; seat: single; flight hours: 11,942 total, 636 in this make and model, 11,800 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KEZM, 14 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 20170727010089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170727010089A), Jul 27, 2017: Rockwell International S-2R, Mcrae, GA, Substantial damage. On July 27, 2017, at approximately 10:30 a.m. eastern standard time (EST), N4886X experienced an uncontrollable landing at the Telfair-Wheeler County Airport… ## Other investigations on N4886X (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 FTW96LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA326), Jul 25, 1996: Rockwell International S2R (N4886X), Tahlequah, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane resulting in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 1, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95728. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 332 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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. --- 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.