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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

October 15, 2003 · Ayres · N4013Z

Midland, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 15, 2003
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Midland, TX
Aircraft
Ayres
Tail Number
N4013Z
Operator
Jim Prater
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW04LA009

During an aerial application flight, the pilot's view became obstructed when oil covered the windshield, then the engine lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing. During the forced landing, the aircraft impacted a concrete culvert, a railroad embankment, a telephone pole, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the turbine engine revealed that a high-pressure, steel-braided oil line, which connected the nose engine case to the oil cooler, had ruptured.

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of engine power due to a ruptured oil line. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.

Full Narrative

On October 15, 2003, at 1608 central daylight time, an Ayres S2R-R3S single-engine, tailwheel-equipped airplane, N4013Z, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Midland, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by Murphree Flying Service, Inc., of Rotan, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual metrological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from Big Spring Mc Mahon-Wrinkle Airport, near Big Spring, Texas, approximately 1538. According to the 31,000-hour pilot, after completing the first pass of the aerial application on a field, his forward visibility was suddenly obstructed by oil covering the windscreen, followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to gain altitude, turned to the left (northerly direction), and initiated a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane's tailwheel struck a concrete culvert as the airplane crossed a 4-lane roadway. Subsequently, the airplane impacted a telephone pole, a railroad embankment, flipped over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the turbine powered airplane by an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed the main wing spar was bent, and the engine was separated from the airframe. Further investigation of the engine components revealed that a high-pressure steel-braided oil line, which connected the nose engine case to the oil cooler, had ruptured. The rupture occurred approximately 6 to 8 inches from the oil cooler. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had a total airframe time of 2,869.5 hours. The most recent annual inspection of the aircraft was completed on December 15, 2002, with approximately 1,903.6 hours total time on the airframe.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:08 CDT
Nearest AirportBig Spring Mcmahon-Wrinkle Air (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAyres
Tail NumberN4013Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJim Prater
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 56 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 5 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data