Ayres S2R-T34 N59SK
23 March 1992 · Bakersfield, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 23 March 1992 at about 22:30 local time, a Ayres S2R-T34 registered N59SK, operated by Old River Crop Dusting, Inc, was involved in an accident near Bakersfield, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bakersfield, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.3401, -119.0698
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Registration
- N59SK
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Old River Crop Dusting, Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92FA149
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A CATASTROPHIC WING SPAR FAILURE PRECIPITATED BY HIDDEN CORROSION AND THE RESTRICTED VIEW OF THE AREA OF CORROSION BY THE AIRPLANE'S WING STRUCTURE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WITNESSES OBSERVED PARTS FALL FROM THE AIRPLANE DURING THE INITIAL SWATH RUN. AS THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN TO NEGOTIATE 30-FT HIGH TELEPHONE WIRES, IT ENTERED INTO A LEFT WING-OVER AND NOSED DOWN INTO THE GROUND. THE LEFT WING SPAR HAD SEPARATED, AND THE FRACTURED SURFACES DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. THE 16-FT LONG LOWER STEEL SPAR CAP HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ALUMINUM WING SPAR WEB ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH. FRACTURE SURFACES IN THE HUCK LOCKBOLT TYPE FASTENERS ON THE SPAR DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. THE AREA OF THE HUCK LOCKBOLT CORROSION IS NOT NOTICEABLE BY VISUAL INSPECTION. THE CORROSION IS MASKED BY THE STEEL SPAR CAP. NONE OF THE HUCK LOCKBOLT COLLARS WERE LOOSE OR MISSING. THE AIRPLANE HAD COMPLETED AN 100-HR INSPECTION 71 HRS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION THERE WERE NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED WITH THE WING SPAR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Ayres S2R accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 1992 | Ayres S2R-T34 | Wright, Arkansas, United States | AG Air Incorporated | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1992 | Ayres S2R-T11 | Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States | JAY H. Harmon | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1992 | Ayres S2R | Grady, Arkansas, United States | Dirty Bird, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 16 Sep 1992 | Ayres S2R-600 | Belzoni, Mississippi, United States | Gary Flying Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 1992 | Ayres S2R-T34 | Five Points, California, United States | American West Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 14 May 1992 | Ayres S2R | Hebert, Louisiana, United States | Kenneys Aero Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Ludlow, California, United States | Higgins, Melvin W & Jean | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft C-23 | Fullerton, California, United States | Eldon R. Howe | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 150 | San Jose, California, United States | Veda Corporation | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 182N | San Ardo, California, United States | Soil Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Grumman G-164B | Dixon, California, United States | Sunrise Duster, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Bellanca 7ECA | Apple Valley, California, United States | Chester Waite | Serious injuries | - |