Staples Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Staples, Minnesota 56479
Thursday, July 17, 2003 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The agricultural airplane received substantial damage during a forced landing subsequent to an aerial application. The pilot initiated a climb to the nearest airport when he noticed instrument indications of low oil pressure. About five seconds later, the propeller went into feather and the engine stopped. The pilot stated that he had never landed with a feathered propeller and when he attempted to land in a clearing, he floated across it and into trees at the far end. The examination revealed a separation through the oil jet flange consistent with high cycle fatigue that initiated at several locations along the flange surface. No tool marks were noted in the area. The oil jet flange material was consistent with the specified aluminum alloy.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The fatigue fracture of the oil jet flange resulting in a total engine failure during the aerial application.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/17/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Staples
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56479
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport STAPLES MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SAZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1287
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1235 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID SAZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1287
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.18
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17542
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 17 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1925
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2005 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA Minneapolis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3299A
NTSB Number CHI03LA214
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ayres Corporation
Aircraft Model S2R-G10
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number G10-117
Certified Max Gross Weight 10000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PETERSON, KENNETH J
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1711 Airport Road
Aircraft Owner City Staples
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56479
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Peterson Aerial Spraying
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code KJEG
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 8Y5
Departure City CLARISSA
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SAZ
Destination City STAPLES
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --