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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 13, 1996 · Rockwell S2R · N3695X

Belzoni, MS

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 13, 1996
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Belzoni, MS
Aircraft
Rockwell S2R
Tail Number
N3695X
Operator
Gary Flying Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA96LA183

The pilot reported that shortly after lift-off on an aerial application flight, a partial power loss occurred. He was about to turn back to the airstrip, when the engine made a 'loud bang' and lost all power. Subsequently, the airplane was damaged during a forced landing in a cotton field. An engine teardown revealed that the #5 cylinder skirt had failed, which resulted in metal pieces spreading throughout the engine crankcase and oil system. Subsequently, the oil scavenger pump failed and the cam drive became galled and seized. There was evidence of fatigue where the #5 cylinder skirt had failed.

NTSB Probable Cause

fatigue failure of the #5 cylinder skirt, which resulted in debris that caused the oil scavenge pump to fail, oil starvation, cam drive seizure, loss of engine power, and a subsequent forced landing in a field of cotton.

Full Narrative

On July 13, 1996, about 0615 central daylight time, a Rockwell S2R, N3695X, operated by Gary Flying Service Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 137, aerial application flight, crashed during a forced landing near Belzoni, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight had taken off for the purpose of performing an aerial application. At an altitude of about 150 feet mean sea level, the pilot stated that he noticed "a partial power loss." The pilot was about to turn back to the airstrip, when the engine made a "loud bang" and lost complete power. The pilot elected to land in a cotton field. According to his statement, "...[the pilot] immediately nosed [the airplane] over to maintain airspeed and at the last second before impact pulled hard back on the stick to raise nose before impact." The tail struck the ground first, the airplane bounced twice, turned to the west, and came to a stop approximately 200 feet from the touchdown point. The airplane crashed about 1 3/4 miles from the departure point. The airplane's engine had about 200 hours of service since being overhauled. On July 23, 1996, the FAA had the operator of the airplane tear down the engine. The teardown revealed that the cylinder No.5, skirt had "broken," resulting in metal pieces spreading throughout the crankcase, and the oil system, causing the oil scavenger pump to fail. According to the teardown report that was submitted by Gary Flying Service, and the facts concurred with by the FAA, "...[the] inspection determined probable metal fatigue on No.5 cylinder skirt [was] the cause of the engine failure."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time06:15 CDT
Nearest Airport2nm S
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRockwell S2R
Tail NumberN3695X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorGary Flying Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-1340-AN1 · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 23 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360°
Visibility6 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 1500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time10:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data