# NTSB LAX91DUM02: Ayres S2RT-T34, N4001M, El Centro, CA, October 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1990, 19:20 local (Oct 17, 1990, 02:20 UTC)
- Place: El Centro, CA
- Coordinates: 32.860351, -115.649803 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8604&lon=-115.6498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26954
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91DUM02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26954/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91DUM02

## Probable cause

COLLISION WITH A GROUND OBJECT AFTER THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY MADE A NIGHT TIME EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER EXPERIENCING AN ENGINE POWER INTERRUPTION FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - powerplant - undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - light condition - dark night
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - berm

## Analysis

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A BRIGHT FLASH OUT OF THE EXHAUST PORTS OF THE ENGINE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG AT THE SAME TIME. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD AND AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 100 FEET THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH ONE TON BALES OF HAY. EXAMINATION AND TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION OR PROBLEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4001M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4001M-1997-02-18), registration cancelled 1997-02-18, S/N 6001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Ayres S2RT-T34
- Registry model: [Ayres S2R-T34](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-t34) (registry code 0970106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6001
- Airframe hours: 7322
- Engines: P&W PT6A-34AG 783 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Stoker Co.
- Registered owner: Stoker Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 26, 1990, 160 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 33,000 total, 15,000 in this make and model, 32,900 as pilot in command, 432 in the last 90 days, 216 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19901016046269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901016046269A), Oct 16, 1990: Ayres S2RT34RESTD, El Centro, CA, Destroyed. Loud bang on takeoff,lost power and crashed into stack of hay bales in open field. Engine over torqued,no defects.

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.

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