# NTSB MIA95LA024: Ayres S2R-R1820, N3097B, Arcadia, FL, November 21, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 21, 1994, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Arcadia, FL
- Location: 27.2212° N, 81.8584° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Arcadia, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2212&lon=-81.8584&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37697
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37697/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA024

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO A UNDETERMINED FAILURE IN THE ENGINE POWER SECTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application
  - engine assembly - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly - undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - high vegetation

## Analysis

THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG COME FROM THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND CAME TO REST. A POST CRASH FIRE ERUPTED AND DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE INDICATED THE ENGINE SUFFERED AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE POWER SECTION WHICH ALLOWED THE PROPELLER TO BE TURNED BUT WITH NO RESPONDING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTONS.

## Factual narrative

On November 21, 1994, about 1345 eastern standard time, an Ayres S2R-R1820, N3097B, registered to Story Aviation, Inc., collided with trees and then the ground while making a forced landing following loss of engine power near Arcadia, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the commercial- rated pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated at Arcadia, Florida, on November 21, 1994, about 1330.

The pilot stated that while making an aerial application run over a citrus grove, he heard a loud bang come from the engine and it shut down. While making a forced landing the aircraft collided with trees and then the ground. A postcrash fire erupted and consumed the aircraft.

Postcrash examination of the engine by FAA inspectors indicated the magnetos and carburetor were destroyed by the postcrash fire. The engine was rotated using the propeller. When the engine was rotated the pistons would not move. No further examination was performed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3097B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3097B-1996-06-27), registration cancelled 1996-06-27, S/N R1820034 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AYRES S2R-R1820
- Registry model: [Ayres S2R-R1820](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-r1820) (registry code 0970215) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1820-034
- Airframe hours: 1867
- Engines: WRIGHT R1820-202 1200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Story Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 1994, 222 hours before
- Departed: FL
- Destination: FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 11,000 total, 450 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SRQ, 40 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 19941121038689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941121038689A), Nov 21, 1994: Ayres S2RR1820, Arcadia, FL, Destroyed. Engine quit on spray runway with loud bang. Struck trees. Engine siezed was destroyed by fire.

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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