Ayres S2R-G10 N6117X

Summary

On 9 June 2003 at about 22:15 local time, a Ayres S2R-G10 registered N6117X was involved in an accident near Maricopa, Arizona, 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

9 June 2003 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Maricopa, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.0853, -111.6464

Aircraft

Ayres S2R-G10

Registration

N6117X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stanfield → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX03LA188

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance/altitude from terrain during an aerial application, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. A factor associated with the accident is the pilot's diverted attention while resetting a circuit breaker.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with the ground during aerial applications. En route to a field, the pilot related that the circuit breaker for the torque indicator popped. After it was reset, the pilot began his descent to the field and the torque indicator popped the circuit breaker for a second time. The pilot reset the breaker, and then the airplane impacted the ground. Post accident examination revealed that the insulation on the wiring to the torque meter had worn off, resulting in the circuit breaker tripping off line. The lower cowling contained pieces of the combustion liner, and a 1½-inch hole was located in the bottom of the combustion liner. The torque meter area displayed signatures consistent with extensive heat. An internal examination revealed aluminum and titanium deposits on the turbine blades, indicative of a running engine at the time of impact. No pre-existing condition was found on the engine that would have interfered with its normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.