Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 accident near Athleimer, Arkansas, June 16, 2011
On June 16, 2011 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Ayres Corporation S2R-T34, registered N30902, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Athleimer, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the first stage planetary gearset in the propeller reduction gearbox, which resulted in catastrophic engine failure. Contributing to the failure was the misrepresentation of the gearset being zero-timed by the company that sold the gearset to the operator. Also contributing was the total accumulated hours on the used gearset, which were beyond the manufacturer's recommended time between overhaul.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2011 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Athleimer, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 · all S2R-T34s on the register
- Registration
- N30902 · no longer on the register · serial T41-179
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had just started his first pass spraying fertilizer when the turboprop engine “exploded” and the propeller suddenly stopped. He saw flames around the cowling and soot and pieces of metal were exiting the exhaust stack. The pilot made a forced landing to a field, which resulted in the landing gear being torn from the airplane. The pilot was able to exit before the airplane was completely consumed by fire. A teardown examination of the engine revealed a failure in the first stage planetary gearset of the propeller reduction gearbox. All the gear teeth of the sun gear were ground down as far as the gear tooth roots, and the three meshing planetary gear teeth were battered and mutilated with only about 2/3 of the gear teeth height remaining. Review of the documentation of the last repair revealed that the gearset was a used replacement from another engine, contrary to manufacturer guidance, which states that first stage planetary gears should be replaced with a new gearset. The shop that sold the used gearset had misrepresented it as being zero-timed. The hours accumulated on the used gearset were beyond the manufacturer’s recommended time between overhaul.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Turbine section › Failure
- factor Personnel issues › Miscellaneous › Intentional act › (general) › Not specified
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Reduction gear and shaft › Related maintenance info
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 9,392 hours in all; 5,100 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 9,392 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 15, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,328 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 13, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 8,738 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
- Operator: Swan Lake Flying Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: None Athleimer AR at 6:25 pm
- Destination: Athleimer AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from PBF, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.