Rockwell S-2R N3649X

Summary

On 23 July 1999 at about 15:00 local time, a Rockwell S-2R registered N3649X was involved in an accident near American Falls, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 July 1999 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

American Falls, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

42.7203, -112.9895

Aircraft

Rockwell S-2R

Registration

N3649X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

American Falls → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA99LA125

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and overload of the (right) main landing gear. A contributing factor was the rough terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was dispensing fertilizer from a cropduster. Just before beginning a course reversal at the end of his second swath run, the Curtiss-Wright R-1820 (1200 horsepower) radial engine 'experienced a sudden and near complete loss of power' for undetermined reasons. The pilot reported that, just before starting the course reversal, he perceived a loss of engine power through a degradation of engine noise and airspeed, but the engine did not completely quit. He dumped the 2,400 pound load, maneuvered to avoid a residence and executed a forced landing to rough terrain. During the landing roll, the right landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that this was the second flight of the morning at the same load weight. An examination of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.