Accident Details
On May 9, 2020, at about 1210 Pacific daylight time, an Ayres Corporation S2R-G1 airplane, registration N2245S, sustained substantial damage during a landing accident near Imperial, California. The commercial pilot, who was operating the aircraft under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 for aerial application, was not injured.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported completing eight crop-dusting application loads and a rinse-load before returning to Imperial County Airport (IPL). During the approach to runway 32, he entered the traffic pattern with a 45° right base entry and noted that everything was normal up to that point. After crossing the runway threshold, both main landing gear touched down, and the airplane immediately turned left. The pilot applied right rudder and right brake to correct, and the airplane began to straighten. Shortly thereafter, he sensed that the right brake was not functioning, and the airplane again turned left abruptly, exiting the runway. After leaving the runway, the left wing tip struck the ground, the airplane spun left, and the left main landing gear collapsed.
Examination Findings
Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane traveled over soft terrain. The left main landing gear struts buckled near the fuselage attach points. The left wing contacted the ground and buckled across the midsection of its upper surface, with two ribs distorted. The right main tire showed fluid streaks consistent with a leaking brake assembly. The pilot reported that the right main brake assembly had been leaking prior to the accident, providing a pre-accident photograph showing a small puddle of brake fluid near the right main landing gear where the airplane was normally parked. Disassembly of the right brake assembly revealed a damaged O-ring on the center piston, and the reservoir for the right brake was empty of fluid.
The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.