Ayres Corporation S2R-G10 accident near Wickenburg, Arizona, July 7, 2005
On July 7, 2005 at about 2:00 am local time, a Ayres Corporation S2R-G10, registered N440AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wickenburg, Arizona. It was a firefighting flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2005 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Wickenburg, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres Corporation S2R-G10 · all S2R-G10s on the register
- Registration
- N440AT · registry record · serial G10-104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Firefighting flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted uneven terrain, scrub brush, and cactus during a forced landing following a reported loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight about 1,000 feet above the ground when the engine lost torque and the propeller began to auto-feather. The pilot made a mayday call and looked for a suitable place to land, but was unable to find anything. The airplane touched down in rough, uneven terrain. The airplane was loaded with 4 hours of fuel prior to the accident flight, which was about 1 hour 15 minutes in duration. The engine, engine accessories, and propeller were examined following the accident. No anomalies were noted with any of the components that would have resulted in the reported loss of engine power. There were many indications of power being developed at the time of impact, such as the separation of the propeller from the flange, the damage to the propeller blades, and the sheared torsion shaft; however, the amount of power being developed could not be quantified.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,051 hours in all; 664 in this make and model; 1,891 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,015.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2004; 229.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-10-511 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: State Of Arizona, Forestry Division
The flight
- Departed from: AVQ Marana AZ
- Destination: E25 Wickenburg AZ
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from DVT, 37 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.