Accident Overview
On June 17, 2024, about 1000 central daylight time, a Thrush Aircraft S2R-G10, registration N529KC, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Hebron, North Dakota. The commercial pilot, operating under 14 CFR Part 137 for aerial application, was uninjured.
Flight History
The flight departed Chase Airstrip (6NA5) in Hebron to apply liquid chemical to a wheat field. After completing the application with an empty hopper, the engine began surging, with power fluctuating. The pilot decided to return to 6NA5. En route, the engine lost all power. The pilot executed a forced landing to a rural dirt road. During landing, the airplane departed the road and came to rest upright in a grass ditch. The pilot egressed without further incident.
Aircraft and Engine Information
The airplane, a Thrush S2R-G10 (Turbo Thrush), was equipped with a Honeywell TPE331-10-511M turboprop engine and a Hartzell HC-B3MN-5L/LM11693N controllable pitch three-blade aluminum propeller. The Hobbs meter indicated 2,185.0 hours at the time of the accident.
Maintenance History
A review of maintenance records showed that at 2,184.2 hours, a hot section inspection, propeller pitch control inspection, and fuel control spline inspection were performed by TAE Aerospace in Midvale, Idaho, on December 21, 2023. Additionally, three Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directives (2006-14-03, 2016-21-07, and 2018-17-15) were complied with. The maintenance was finalized with an engine test run and a leak check.
Damage and Recovery
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The aircraft was recovered from the accident site and transported to a secure location for future examination. The estimated density altitude for the closest meteorological reporting station was 2,742 ft.