# NTSB MIA96LA183: Rockwell S2R, N3695X, Belzoni, MS, July 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 13, 1996, 06:15 local (11:15 UTC) - Place: Belzoni, MS - Coordinates: 33.169521, -90.480262 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1695&lon=-90.4803&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 October 4, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38049/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA183 ## Probable cause fatigue failure of the #5 cylinder skirt, which resulted in debris that caused the oil scavenge pump to fail, oil starvation, cam drive seizure, loss of engine power, and a subsequent forced landing in a field of cotton. ## 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, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,cylinder - failure (cause) - lubricating system,oil scavenge pump - failure (cause) - fluid,oil - starvation (cause) - engine assembly,camshaft - binding(mechanical) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after lift-off on an aerial application flight, a partial power loss occurred. He was about to turn back to the airstrip, when the engine made a 'loud bang' and lost all power. Subsequently, the airplane was damaged during a forced landing in a cotton field. An engine teardown revealed that the #5 cylinder skirt had failed, which resulted in metal pieces spreading throughout the engine crankcase and oil system. Subsequently, the oil scavenger pump failed and the cam drive became galled and seized. There was evidence of fatigue where the #5 cylinder skirt had failed. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 1996, about 0615 central daylight time, a Rockwell S2R, N3695X, operated by Gary Flying Service Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 137, aerial application flight, crashed during a forced landing near Belzoni, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight had taken off for the purpose of performing an aerial application. At an altitude of about 150 feet mean sea level, the pilot stated that he noticed "a partial power loss." The pilot was about to turn back to the airstrip, when the engine made a "loud bang" and lost complete power. The pilot elected to land in a cotton field. According to his statement, "...[the pilot] immediately nosed [the airplane] over to maintain airspeed and at the last second before impact pulled hard back on the stick to raise nose before impact." The tail struck the ground first, the airplane bounced twice, turned to the west, and came to a stop approximately 200 feet from the touchdown point. The airplane crashed about 1 3/4 miles from the departure point. The airplane's engine had about 200 hours of service since being overhauled. On July 23, 1996, the FAA had the operator of the airplane tear down the engine. The teardown revealed that the cylinder No.5, skirt had "broken," resulting in metal pieces spreading throughout the crankcase, and the oil system, causing the oil scavenger pump to fail. According to the teardown report that was submitted by Gary Flying Service, and the facts concurred with by the FAA, "...[the] inspection determined probable metal fatigue on No.5 cylinder skirt [was] the cause of the engine failure." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3695X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3695X), registered now, S/N 1910R (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rockwell S2R - Registry model: [Aero Commander S2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-s2r) (registry code 0143022) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1910R - Airframe hours: 3243 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Gary Flying Service Inc. - Registered owner: James A. Fuqua - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 16, 1996, 177 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,729 total, 1,583 in this make and model, 2,657 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GWO ## 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 19960713017009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960713017009A), Jul 13, 1996: Ayres S2R, Belzoni, MS, Destroyed. Lost power departing to spray area. Turned back. Crash landed. 200HRS since tbo. NR5 cyl skirt broke. Fouled engine 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.