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| Date: | Thursday 5 May 2022 |
| Time: | 09:30 |
| Type: |  Thrush S2R-H80 Turbo Thrush |
| Owner/operator: | Dawson Brothers Spraying Inc |
| Registration: | N6216M |
| MSN: | H80-200 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2017 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2340 hours |
| Engine model: | General Electric H80-100 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Hawkinsville, GA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Hawkinsville, GA |
| Hawkinsville, GA | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On May 5, 2022, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Thrush S2R-H80, N6216M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Hawkinsville, Georgia. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight.
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll for the aerial application flight, the airplane used more runway than normal, and that after takeoff it “didn't seem to produce power as usual.' He began a right turn and noticed “the power and airspeed [were] slowing.' He checked the gauges and noticed that that the fuel pressure was fluctuating, and then turned on the emergency fuel pump. He then jettisoned the chemical load, and the airplane continued to descend until it impacted trees.
A postaccident examination of the airplane found that the electric main fuel pump did not operate. Disassembly of the pump's electric motor revealed that the carbon brushes had completely worn away, with no brush material remaining in either of the two brush holders. Examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Given that the pilot reported a longer than usual takeoff roll and a reduction in engine power throughout the flight, the pump may not have been operating properly or at all before takeoff. The reduction in power may have been due to the engine operating on only its internal fuel pump. The pilot did not report that the condition improved after he activated the emergency fuel pump. Whether or not the emergency pump had no effect or there was insufficient time to recover before the airplane struck trees could not be determined.
Probable Cause: A failure of the electric main fuel pump due to the carbon brushes having completely worn away.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ERA22LA239
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 12-May-2022 14:52 | harro | Added |
| 12-May-2022 14:53 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, ] |
| 20-Jul-2024 09:18 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report, ] |
| 22-Jul-2024 23:41 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Operator, Narrative, Photo, ] |
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