# NTSB LAX94LA143: Ayres S2R, N4003W, Winterhaven, CA, February 16, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 1994, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Winterhaven, CA - Coordinates: 32.870231, -114.720016 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8702&lon=-114.7200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 3, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28681 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28681/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA143 ## Probable cause A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SMELLED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT DURING TAKEOFF, AND ALSO NOTICED AN ACCOMPANYING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. AFTER A MOMENTARY POWER SURGE, THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. THE PILOT THEN JETTISONED HIS LOAD OF WATER AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A NEARBY ROAD, BUT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED OR ALTITUDE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT PANCAKED ONTO AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD, BOUNCED, AND SLID TO A STOP. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED HE OBSERVED FIRE COMING FROM BOTH THE ENGINE AND ACCESSORY COMPARTMENTS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH AN ONBOARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. ALL ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL SYSTEM LINES AND COMPONENTS WERE DESTROYED IN THE POSTCRASH FIRE. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 1994, at 1415 Pacific standard time, a Rockwell Ayers S2R, N4003W, crashed and burned on take off from Jackson agricultural airstrip in Winterhaven, California. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole person on board, was not injured. The aircraft was subsequently destroyed by the fire. The aircraft was conducting local area agricultural operations in accordance with 14 CFR Part 137 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The aircraft was loaded with water and there was reportedly no hazardous cargo on board. The flight was originating at the time of the mishap. The pilot stated that he smelled smoke in the cockpit upon takeoff and also noticed an accompanying loss of engine power. After a momentary power surge, the engine failed completely. The pilot then jettisoned his load of water and attempted to land on a nearby road, but did not have sufficient airspeed or altitude to successfully complete the approach. The pilot stated that the aircraft pancaked onto an agricultural field, bounced, and slid to a stop. The pilot said that after coming to rest he observed fire coming from both the engine and accessory compartments. The pilot exited the aircraft uninjured and attempted unsuccessfully to extinguish the fire with an on-board fire extinguisher. The aircraft was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the San Diego, California, Flight Standards District Office. He reported that the engine compartment fuel lines and system components were consumed in the postcrash fire. The inspector stated that the source of the in- flight fire could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4003W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4003W-1997-06-04), registration cancelled 1997-06-04, S/N 2471R (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ayres S2R - Registry model: [Ayres S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s-2r) (registry code 0970101) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2471R - Airframe hours: 7628 - Engines: P&W R-1340-59 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Ds Duster Ag Services, Inc, doing business as Dms Ag Services, Inc. - Registered owner: Dms Ag Services, Inc . - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 1993, 85 hours before - Airport: NONE, Jackson Agstrip, runway 18, 2,400 × 70 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 12,500 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 3 knots - Visibility: 35 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: YUM, 5 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 19940216005699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940216005699A), Feb 16, 1994: Ayres S2R, Winterhaven, CA, Destroyed. Smoke and power loss on takeoff. Pumped load. Tried for road. Pancaked in field. On fire, unable extinguishe. Burned 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.