Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
https://registry.faa.gov/N762BF
Location: Shellman, GA
Location: Shellman, GA
Accident Number: ERA20LA017
Date & Time: 10/18/2019, 1430 EDT
Registration: N762BF
Aircraft: Ayres S2R
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural
On October 18, 2019, at 1430 eastern daylight time, an Ayres S2R-G10, N762BF, was destroyed by fire after a precautionary landing in a pasture in Shellman, Georgia. The commercial pilot was not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the aerial application flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The flight departed a private field in Shellman, Georgia about 1330, and was destined for Andrews airport (4GA8), Arlington, Georgia.
According to the pilot, after completing an aerial application, he was heading to his home base at 4GA8. While at an altitude of 600 ft mean sea level, the engine began "surging as if it were starving for fuel." He had fueled the airplane with 75 gallons prior to departure. He decided to perform a precautionary landing in a pasture. During the rollout, he noticed the airplane was headed toward an irrigation center-pivot sprinkler and decided to ground loop the airplane to avoid hitting it. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear and tail wheel assemblies collapsed. The pilot reported that he remained in the airplane for "a few seconds" before exiting, and when he did, he noticed smoke coming from the engine nacelle. He then called the landowner and informed him of the off-field landing and advised that the airplane was burning and asked the landowner to notify the fire department.
An examination of the wreckage at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane was mostly consumed by fire. The source of the fire could not be determined at the scene. The airplane was recovered to a salvage facility and retained for further examination.
The pilot reported that the airplane's most recent 100-hour inspection was performed on August 21, 2019 at which time it had accrued a total of 1,788 flight hours.
According to FAA airmen records, the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. The pilot reported 20,000 hours of total flight experience, with 19,500 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Ayres
Registration: N762BF
Model/Series: S2R G10
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:No
Operator: Bruce's Flying Service
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: ABY, 193 ft msl
Observation Time: 1453 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 21 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 7°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 110°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Shellman, GA
Destination: Arlington, GA (4GA8)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 31.642222, -84.587778 (est)
ReplyDeleteapparently flying was simply a job, no interest in the pure pleasure of flying or sharing the joy of flight!
"The pilot reported 20,000 hours of total flight experience, with 19,500 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane."