# NTSB SEA94LA136: Ayres S2R, N8542, Burley, ID, June 2, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 2, 1994, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Burley, ID
- Coordinates: 42.390739, -113.779304 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3907&lon=-113.7793&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41939
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41939/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA136

## Probable cause

A LOOSE CARBURETOR. FACTORS INCLUDE NO SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR MAKING A FORCED LANDING, AND TREES IN THE FIELD WHERE THE FORCED LANDING TOOK PLACE.

## 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
  - fuel system,carburetor - loose (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

JUST AS THE AERIAL APPLICATION PILOT WAS COMPLETING A SPRAY RUN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THERE WAS NO SUITABLE LANDING SITE AVAILABLE, AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A NEARBY FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A TREE LINE THAT RAN ACROSS THE FIELD. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE CARBURETOR MOUNTING BOLTS HAD COME LOOSE, ALLOWING THE FUEL MIXTURE TO BECOME TOO LEAN.

## Factual narrative

On June 2, 1994, approximately 1530 mountain daylight time (MDT), an Ayres S2R, N8542, impacted trees during a forced landing seven miles east of Burley, Idaho.  The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, received no injuries, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.  The agricultural application flight, which departed a county road approximately 1430 MDT, was in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

The pilot said that the engine lost power as he started a pull-up from an application run. He executed a forced landing in an adjacent field, and impacted a line of trees during the landing roll.

It was later discovered that the carburetor mounting bolts were loose, and the carburetor was not firmly seated against its mounting flange.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8542](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8542-1999-07-29), registration cancelled 1999-07-29, S/N R1820-012DC (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AYRES S2R
- Registry model: [Ayres S2R-R1820](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-r1820) (registry code 0970215) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R-1820-0012
- Airframe hours: 2200
- Engines: WRIGHT R-1820-71 1200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Bates, Bruce E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 1993, 150 hours before
- Departed: COUNTY ROAD, ID
- Destination: ID

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 14,421 total, 511 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 225° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F

## 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 19940602013419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940602013419A), Jun 2, 1994: Ayres S2RR1820, Burley, ID, Substantial damage. Lost power end spray run. Hit treeline on forced landing. Carburetor mount bolts came loose. Leaned 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.

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