Ayres S2R-G5 N20GH

Summary

On 4 August 1996 at about 19:00 local time, a Ayres S2R-G5 registered N20GH was involved in an accident near Start, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 August 1996 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Start, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

32.4907, -91.8603

Aircraft

Ayres S2R-G5

Registration

N20GH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA332

Nobody was injured.

a leak in the turbine scavenge pump oil supply line, due to chafing of its separated shield assembly, which resulted in an oil leak, oil starvation, and activation of the propeller feathering system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the engine began to lose power during the takeoff roll. He said he was 'past the stopping point' and was 'able to get the airplane to fly about 1/2 mile before the engine shut down completely.' A forced landing to a cotton field was initiated. After the aircraft came to a stop, it was consumed by a postimpact fire. A teardown of the Garrett TPE-331 turbine engine was performed. Examination revealed that the turbine scavenge pump oil supply line shield assembly had separated and worn through the oil supply line it surrounded. The engine oil filter was removed, and no oil was found in the oil filter housing. One pint of oil was drained from the engine oil tank. Visual inspection of the propeller revealed that it was in the feather position. Regarding the Garrett TPE-331 engine, if oil pressure is lost, the propeller will automatically go to the feather position, even if the engine continues to run. A witness stated that during the previous flight, smoke was observed coming from the exhaust area of the engine. Also, the pilot had reported problems with the airplane's engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.