AYRES CORPORATION S2R-T34

Heth, AR — June 28, 2013

Event Information

DateJune 28, 2013
Event TypeACC
NTSB NumberCEN13LA384
Event ID20130702X25727
LocationHeth, AR
CountryUSA
Coordinates35.11694, -90.48722
AirportBlackfish Airstrip
Highest InjuryNONE

Aircraft

MakeAYRES CORPORATION
ModelS2R-T34
CategoryAIR
FAR Part137
Aircraft DamageSUBS

Conditions

Light ConditionDAYL
WeatherVMC

Injuries

Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
None1
Total Injured0

Event Location

Probable Cause

The partial collapse of the right main landing gear during landing due to an improper previous weld repair to the right main landing gear and subsequent corrosion, which resulted in a loss of directional control and impact with terrain.

Full Narrative

On June 28, 2013, at 1210 central daylight time, N455JM, an Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 single engine turbo propeller airplane impacted terrain during landing at Blackfish Airstrip, Heth, Arkansas. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to Humphrey B Flying, LLC; Terre Haute, Indiana, and was operated by Hutcherson Flying, Inc.; Forrest City, Arkansas. Day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight.

The pilot stated that during landing his right main landing gear hit a pothole on the runway and directional control was lost when the right main landing gear partially collapsed. The pilot's efforts to correct the veer were unsuccessful and the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright in a ditch on the right side of the runway. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing.

A postaccident examination disclosed undetected corrosion in area of previous weld repairs to the right main landing gear.

About This NTSB Record

This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.

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