History of Flight
On May 16, 2010, at about 1445 mountain daylight time, an Ayres Corporation S2R airplane, registration N241WD, was substantially damaged after impacting a power line and terrain near Rushville, Nebraska. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The local aerial application flight had departed Gordon Municipal Airport (GRN), Gordon, Nebraska, and was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The airplane was scheduled to apply chemicals to a rectangular, north-south aligned field approximately 3,850 feet long by 500 feet wide, widening to about 1,200 feet on the southern third. A SATLOC global positioning unit provided a track of the accident flight, which did not include altitude or airspeed. The track showed the airplane departed GRN, approached the field from the northeast on a southwest heading, and overflew the north end of the field. It then made a left turn, circled south of the field, flew northbound parallel to the field, and turned southbound for the first pass. While flying south over the field, the airplane struck an unmarked, two-stranded power line crossing the field east-west. A witness observed the airplane applying chemicals in a southern direction when it hit the power line, turned sideways, then inverted and impacted the ground about one-half mile from the power lines.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 44, held a commercial pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land and a second-class medical certificate issued April 25, 2010, with no limitations. According to operator records, the pilot had 1,789 total flight hours and 300 hours in the accident airplane type.
Aircraft Information
The single-seat, low-wing, fixed-gear airplane, serial number 2410R, was manufactured in 1976. It was powered by a Garrett TPE331-1-1-1012 engine, serial number P-34016, rated at 665 horsepower. The last inspection was an annual type on February 17, 2010, at 3,743 total time airframe. The airplane was equipped with a wire deflector cable stretching between the top and back of the cockpit and the top of the vertical stabilizer. It was mostly yellow with a white cockpit and black paint on the top of the engine cowling.
Meteorological Information
Weather at Pine Ridge, South Dakota, at 1252 was winds calm, visibility 10 miles, and overcast skies at 4,700 feet mean sea level.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane impacted terrain after contacting a two-strand power line and came to rest inverted. The engine and propeller were separated from the fuselage and located under the fuselage and left wing. All three propeller blades were bent aft with S-type bending. Both wings exhibited bending of the spars. A portion of the rudder from the top to the middle attach point and the fiberglass top of the vertical stabilizer were found near the power line strike area. The remainder of the vertical stabilizer and rudder were intermingled with the tail wheel assembly. The wire deflector cable exhibited deformation and bending about one foot forward of its attach point on the vertical stabilizer. There was damage to the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer about 12 inches below the wire deflector attach point. Yellow paint smears were found on portions of the damaged power lines.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed on May 18, 2010, attributed the cause of death to blunt force trauma from the accident. Toxicological testing by the FAA for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, drugs, and volatiles was negative.