# NTSB WPR16LA137: Rockwell International S 2R, N4952X, Brawley, CA, June 29, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2016, 21:15 local (Jun 29, 2016, 04:15 UTC) - Place: Brawley, CA - Coordinates: 32.989444, -115.503051 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9894&lon=-115.5031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 15, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93550 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93550/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93550 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA137 ## Probable cause The airplane’s inability to climb and subsequent impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Rockwell International S-2R, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7630202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was departing on an agricultural application flight. After climbing to between 100 and 125 ft above ground level, he reduced engine power in order not to exceed red line. Soon after, the airplane stopped climbing and began to descend. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot initiated a forced landing, during which the right wing impacted terrain and the landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination revealed no preimpact anomalies with the engine or airplane systems that would have precluded normal operation. A weight and balance calculation determined that the airplane was operating within its weight and balance limitations at the time of the accident. The reason for the airplane's inability to climb could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 2016, about 2115 Pacific daylight time, a Rockwell International S-2R, airplane, N4952X, collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from Brawley Municipal Airport (BWC), Brawley, California. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to the Bank of Utah and operated by Farm Aviation Inc, of Brawley, California as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time. The pilot reported that after the pre-flight examination was accomplished, the airplane was started and the tanker loaded the airplane with diluted chemical. The airplane was then taxied to the west end of the runway for a departure to the east. The airplane took off normal and began to climb and attained an altitude of about 100 to 125 ft above ground level when the pilot decreased engine power so as not to red line the rpm. At this point, the pilot leveled off the airplane, pushed the nose over to gain airspeed, and adjusted the flaps to try and increase lift. As he increased engine power, the airplane started descending. Unable to maintain altitude, a forced landing was initiated that involved a right turn due to power transfer wires and roads in the area. During the landing the right wing impacted terrain and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane began sliding on its fuselage, spinning to the right, before coming to rest in a northerly direction. The pilot reported that he didn't dump the chemical load during the descent because he just didn't have the time. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane but thought that he had too much of a load. An onsite examination of the airplane, which was conducted by representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), revealed that the right wing was buckled near the tip, and the landing gear was crushed underneath the wings. The fuel system was intact, and no fuel leaks were noted. The propeller blades had impact damage consistent with power during impact with the ground. The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. According to the owner, the airplane departed with 350 gallons of chemicals in the hopper. He also stated that the airplane's previous flight was the night before and it flew with no issues. The accident airplane was refueled before takeoff on the accident flight and had about 65 gallons of fuel onboard. Aircraft gross weight is 5,333 lbs and the weight at the time of the accident was 4,700 lbs. Data was pulled from the engine monitoring system and revealed that the engine was producing power throughout the accident sequence. The closest weather reporting station was located at Imperial County Airport (IPL), Imperial, California, located about 10 miles to the southwest of the accident site. At2053, the weather reported as wind from 230o at 8 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 11,000 ft, temperature 39° C, dew point 12° C, altimeter 29.70 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4952X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4952X-2017-03-01), registration cancelled 2017-03-01, S/N 2160R, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S 2R (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Rockwell International S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r) (registry code 7630202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2160R - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 9503.7 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney pt6a-34ag 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Farm Aviation - Registered owner: Bank of Utah Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 2016 - Departed: BWC, Brawley, CA - Destination: BWC, Brawley, CA - Airport: BWC, Brawley Muni, runway 08, 4,402 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review August 12, 2015; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,575 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,460 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 102 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: KIPL, 10 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 20160628021689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160628021689A), Jun 28, 2016: Rockwell International S-2R, Brawley, CA, Substantial damage. At 9:15 pm, June 28, 2016, N4952X departed Brawley Airport (bwc), with a cargo of economic poison for a night of aerial application. At approximately 100' AGL… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 13, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93550. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Initial Statement (item 2, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Initial%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Brandon (item 3, .PDF, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Brandon-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 4, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466638&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Sun and Moon Data (item 5, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sun%20and%20Moon%20Data-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 6, .PDF, 10 photos, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF 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.