Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 accident near Donalsonville, Georgia, August 4, 2010
On August 4, 2010 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Ayres Corporation S2R-T34, registered N4004D, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Donalsonville, Georgia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to a failure of the compressor turbine blades for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2010 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Donalsonville, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 · all S2R-T34s on the register
- Registration
- N4004D · registry record · serial 6005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was applying chemicals to a field at 200 feet above ground level when the engine lost power. He said that he heard a "pop" sound, heard the engine "spool down," and observed blue smoke trailing from the top of the engine cowling. He selected a nearby field and performed a forced landing. The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain during the landing. The pilot said that he heard the sound of "something spinning" coming from the engine cowling before he subsequently shut down the engine, after which the sound ceased. Upon exiting the airplane, he saw oil draining from the lower aft portion of the engine cowling. Postaccident examination revealed internal engine damage along the gas-path downstream of the compressor turbine. The compressor turbine blades were fractured about 1/3 to 1/2 of their respective spans and displayed burning erosion and coating loss. Visual and macroscopic inspection of the blade fracture surfaces displayed no indications of fatigue or other progressive fracture mechanism. The definitive failure mechanism of the blades was not determined. The compressor turbine blades were manufactured by a third-party vendor under a Federal Aviation Administration Parts Manufacturer Approval. The blade manufacturer required that the blades be submitted for overhaul inspection after the first 5,000, and each subsequent 3,000 hours of operation thereafter. The installation and overhaul history of the blades could not be determined from maintenance records provided.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Turbine section › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 6, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-60A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Custom Ag And Air, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: 17J Donalsonville GA
- Destination: 17J Donalsonville GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:21 pm from BGE, 13 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.