Hamlin, TX, USA
N4946X
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S-2R
During the landing, the airplane encountered a strong, gusting right crosswind. The pilot attempted to perform a go-around; however, the airplane ground-looped. The prevailing wind resulted in a right quartering tailwind with a gusting crosswind component of 23 knots. The maximum crosswind velocity for the accident airplane was 15 miles per hour; therefore, the calculated crosswind component exceeded the capability of the airplane. The pilot should not have landed with a crosswind that exceeded the airplane's capabilities. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
On June 1, 2013, about 1030 central daylight time, a Rockwell International S-2R airplane, N4946X, impacted terrain while landing at the Hamlin Municipal Airport (14F), Hamlin, Texas. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Tri-County Sprayers, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from 14F at 0925. According to the pilot, during the landing to runway 34 (3,200 feet by 50 feet, asphalt), the airplane encountered a "strong and gusty" crosswind from the right. The pilot attempted to perform a go around; however, the airplane groundlooped resulting in substantial damage to both wings, the empennage, and the firewall. The pilot reported that the wind was 090 degrees at 23 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The closest official weather station, located 28 miles to the southwest of 14F, recorded the wind as 100 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The maximum crosswind was calculated to be 23 knots based upon the reported winds from the pilot. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot's decision to land the airplane with a crosswind that exceeded the airplane's capabilities.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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