24 May 2012: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S-2R — ROYAL FLYING SERVICE INC

24 May 2012: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S-2R — ROYAL FLYING SERVICE INC

No fatalities • Royal City, WA, United States

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from an object during an aerial application, which resulted in damage to the landing gear and led to the airplane ground looping during the subsequent landing.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform an aerial application on a wheat field. During a pass, he mistakenly descended the airplane too early and struck a pipe on a center pivot irrigation system. As a result, the left main landing gear sustained damage, and the pilot flew the airplane back to the airport to land. Upon touchdown, the airplane ground looped due to the damage incurred by the landing gear. The airplane's left wing was damaged during the landing.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to striking the object.

Contributing factors

  • cause Pilot
  • Damaged/degraded
  • cause Response/compensation

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 180/05kt, vis 10sm

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