Thrush S2R N32LF

Summary

On 17 August 2017 at about 02:00 local time, a Thrush S2R registered N32LF, operated by Glenn Air, Inc., was involved in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 2017 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Talkeetna, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Stephan Lake Lodge (AK61)

Coordinates

62.6967, -148.9181

Aircraft

Thrush S2R

Registration

N32LF

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Glenn Air, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willow → Talkeetna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC17LA046

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, which allowed an excessive load on the tailwheel and resulted in the subsequent component fracture, loss of control, runway excursion, and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was transporting bulk fuel to a remote lodge. During the landing to the dirt and gravel runway, the tail of the airplane came down, and the pilot heard a loud bang. He reported the empennage "went clear" to the ground and that he had no rudder authority. The pilot attempted to control the airplane, but the airplane departed the runway and impacted a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. The tailwheel spring assembly and a fractured attachment bolt were recovered from the airplane. An examination revealed that the deformation of the bolt and appearance of the fracture surface were consistent with bending overstress. The spring and a portion of the bolt exhibited corrosion and pitting; signs of fatigue were not noted. The airplane flight manual states to lower the tail smoothly during the landing roll. Because the deformation of the bolt and the fracture surface were the result of overstress, it is likely that the pilot allowed an excessive landing load on the tailwheel when it touched down, which resulted in a loss of control and a subsequent runway excursion and impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.