Introduction
On February 2, 2024, at approximately 1710 hours local time, an Ayres S2R-T34 agricultural aircraft, registered as RP-R3298, was involved in a runway excursion at Osmeña Aerodrome in Barangay Osmeña, Compostela Valley, Davao de Oro, Philippines. The aircraft was operated by Airtrac Agricultural Corporation and was being used for training purposes in preparation for aerial spraying operations. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time.
History of Flight
The pilot was conducting training in accordance with the company's training manual. After completing six touch-and-go landings, the flight instructor released the pilot for a solo flight. The flight was uneventful from takeoff to landing. The aircraft touched down at runway marker 2. During the landing roll, when thrust reversers were applied, the aircraft began to veer to the right. The pilot applied corrections to return to the runway centerline. Subsequently, the aircraft made a sharp left turn, exited the runway, and came to rest in a canal between markers 6 and 7. The aircraft's final heading was 89 degrees, at coordinates 7°34.433'N, 126°05.684'E.
Aircraft and Personnel Information
The aircraft was a Thrush Aircraft Inc. model S2R-T34, manufactured in 1988. It had accumulated 3,320 hours total time as of the accident date. The engine was a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG turboprop, serial number PCE-PH0627, with 7,079 hours since new. The propeller was a three-bladed Hartzell HC-B3TN-3D. The pilot held a Commercial Pilot License and had 616 hours total flight time, with 29 hours on the S2R-T34 type. He was male, born September 14, 1978, Filipino, and married. His medical certificate was valid until April 2024.
Meteorological and Aerodrome Information
Weather conditions were ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU), with visibility over 10 kilometers. The aerodrome, Osmeña Aerodrome, had a single runway oriented 18/36, 860 meters long and 15 meters wide, with a macadam surface and a slope of less than 1% downhill on Runway 36. The runway strip width was 30 meters. The aerodrome was limited to aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 2,000 kg or less. The aircraft was equipped with a VHF transceiver for communications; no flight recorders were installed, nor were they required by regulation.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. All three propeller blades were bent beyond repair. The main landing gears on both sides were deformed and had to be replaced. The engine internals were suspected damaged due to a seized engine shaft, requiring an overhaul. Additionally, portions of both wings were damaged from ground impact. Approximately 20 banana plants and several banana fruits were also damaged.
Conclusion
The probable cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll.