Ayres S2R accident near Hebert, Louisiana, May 14, 1992
On May 14, 1992 at about 9:27 pm local time, a Ayres S2R, registered N5637X, was destroyed in an accident near Hebert, Louisiana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1992 · about 9:27 pm local time
- Place
- Hebert, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R
- Registration
- N5637X · no longer on the register · serial 2408R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTING THE AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE MADE TWO LEFT CLIMBING TURNS TO A DOWNWIND LEG AND THEN LEVELED OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET AGL. A WITNESS HEARD A HIGH PITCH SOUND, THEN OBSERVED THE RIGHT WING DROP APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGEES, AND THEN RETURN TO A WINGS-LEVEL ATTITUDE WITHOUT AN ALTITUDE LOSS. THE NOSE THEN PITCHED DOWNWARD, AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED VERTICALLY TO IMPACT IN AN OPEN PLOWED FIELD. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF ROTATIONAL DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. THE PROPELLER WAS FOUND TO BE AT A HIGH PITCH ANGLE AT IMPACT COMPARED TO THAT EXPECTED FOR A NORMAL TAKEOFF POWER SETTING. THE ENGINE DID NOT MEET THE APPROVED DATA PLATE CONFIGURATION DUE TO NONCONFORMANCE OF THE PROPELLER PITCH CONTROL AND THE SECOND STAGE STATOR ASSEMBLY. THE PROPELLER PITCH CONTROL CAM WAS OF UNKNOWN TYPE AND IDENTIFICATION. THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN OVERHAULED AS REQUIRED, AND AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE REGARDING THE ENGINE TORQUE SENSOR HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AS REQUIRED.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,759 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1992; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-1-151A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kenneys Aero INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 9:26 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from MLU, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.