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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

March 23, 1992 · Ayres S2R-T34 · N59SK

Bakersfield, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 23, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Bakersfield, CA
Aircraft
Ayres S2R-T34
Tail Number
N59SK
Operator
Old River Crop Dusting
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX92FA149

WITNESSES OBSERVED PARTS FALL FROM THE AIRPLANE DURING THE INITIAL SWATH RUN. AS THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN TO NEGOTIATE 30-FT HIGH TELEPHONE WIRES, IT ENTERED INTO A LEFT WING-OVER AND NOSED DOWN INTO THE GROUND. THE LEFT WING SPAR HAD SEPARATED, AND THE FRACTURED SURFACES DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. THE 16-FT LONG LOWER STEEL SPAR CAP HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ALUMINUM WING SPAR WEB ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH. FRACTURE SURFACES IN THE HUCK LOCKBOLT TYPE FASTENERS ON THE SPAR DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. THE AREA OF THE HUCK LOCKBOLT CORROSION IS NOT NOTICEABLE BY VISUAL INSPECTION. THE CORROSION IS MASKED BY THE STEEL SPAR CAP. NONE OF THE HUCK LOCKBOLT COLLARS WERE LOOSE OR MISSING. THE AIRPLANE HAD COMPLETED AN 100-HR INSPECTION 71 HRS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION THERE WERE NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED WITH THE WING SPAR.

NTSB Probable Cause

A CATASTROPHIC WING SPAR FAILURE PRECIPITATED BY HIDDEN CORROSION AND THE RESTRICTED VIEW OF THE AREA OF CORROSION BY THE AIRPLANE'S WING STRUCTURE.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES OBSERVED PARTS FALL FROM THE AIRPLANE DURING THE INITIAL SWATH RUN. AS THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN TO NEGOTIATE 30-FT HIGH TELEPHONE WIRES, IT ENTERED INTO A LEFT WING-OVER AND NOSED DOWN INTO THE GROUND. THE LEFT WING SPAR HAD SEPARATED, AND THE FRACTURED SURFACES DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. THE 16-FT LONG LOWER STEEL SPAR CAP HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ALUMINUM WING SPAR WEB ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH. FRACTURE SURFACES IN THE HUCK LOCKBOLT TYPE FASTENERS ON THE SPAR DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. THE AREA OF THE HUCK LOCKBOLT CORROSION IS NOT NOTICEABLE BY VISUAL INSPECTION. THE CORROSION IS MASKED BY THE STEEL SPAR CAP. NONE OF THE HUCK LOCKBOLT COLLARS WERE LOOSE OR MISSING. THE AIRPLANE HAD COMPLETED AN 100-HR INSPECTION 71 HRS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION THERE WERE NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED WITH THE WING SPAR.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAyres S2R-T34
Tail NumberN59SK
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorOld River Crop Dusting
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6-34 · Turboprop · 750
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data