What happened
On June 17, 2024, at approximately 10:00 central daylight time, a Thrush S2R-G10 (also known as a Turbo Thrush) was engaged in a Part 137 aerial application flight near Hebron, North Dakota. The aircraft, registration N529KC, departed from Chase Airstrip (6NA5) to apply liquid chemical to a rural wheat field.
After completing the application work with an empty hopper, the pilot experienced engine surging, characterized by fluctuating power settings. The pilot attempted to return to 6NA5, but during the flight, the engine suffered a total loss of power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing on a rural dirt road. During the maneuver, the aircraft departed the road and came to rest upright in a grass ditch. The pilot was not injured and was able to exit the aircraft without incident.
The investigation
The aircraft was equipped with a Honeywell TPE331-10-511M turboprop engine and a Hartzell HC-B3MN-5L/LM11693N three-blade aluminum propeller. At the time of the accident, the Hobbs meter recorded 2,185.0 hours.
Maintenance records indicated that at 2,184.2 hours, a hot section inspection, a propeller pitch control inspection, and a fuel control spline inspection had been completed by an authorized service center in Midvale, Idaho, on December 21, 2023. The records also showed compliance with three FAA Airworthiness Directives (2006-14-03, 2016-21-07, and 2018-17-15). The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the rudder.