Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Doerun, Georgia 31744
Friday, September 10, 2010 11:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During an aerial application flight, the pilot felt a vibration and heard a loud whine. He observed that the exhaust gas temperature was above the temperature limit and was rising. Almost simultaneously, he observed that the indication on the torque meter was dropping. He then decided to make a precautionary landing in a pasture that adjoined the field that he was spraying. He landed the airplane in the pasture, but the airplane struck several large anthills, bouncing up and becoming airborne each time. The airplane then overran the pasture and struck trees. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction which would have caused or contributed to the loss of power reported by the pilot. The pilot advised that, when he decided to make a precautionary landing, he had a rush to judgment. He was fast on the approach and landed with a tailwind, and he could not get the airplane to stop before it hit the trees.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to select an adequate forced landing site and his excess speed during the landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/10/2010
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Doerun
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31744
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 311900N
Event Location Longitude 0835400W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 315
Weather Observation Facility ID ABY
Elevation of weather observation facility 196
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
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) 29347
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2011 2:04PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2312Y
NTSB Number ERA10LA474
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AYRES
Aircraft Model S2R-G10
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number G10-157
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 11 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4482
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name 4S Aviation
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Doerun
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31744
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name THAGGARD AVIATION LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Doerun
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 31744
Operator Code TG7G
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number TG7G289Y
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
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 --
Departure City Doerun
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Doerun
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2011 2:04PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --