N3104SAyres S2R-R1340 · 1990

On July 12, 2020, about 1110 central daylight time, a Rockwell Thrush S2R R1340, N3104S, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Keokuk, Iowa. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 ferry flight.

The agricultural airplane had just completed repairs at a certified repair facility. Part of the repairs included the removal and reinstallation of both wings. The intent of the flight was to ferry the airplane cross-country from the repair station to its home base in Vinton, Iowa. A planned fuel stop was at the Keokuk Municipal Airport (EOK), Keokuk, Iowa. According to the pilot, he had topped off the airplane with 197 gallons of fuel before departing the repair station. The pilot set up on a straight-in approach to at EOK and was flying about 1,500 -1,800 ft above ground level when the engine temperature surged then decreased. The engine stopped running and the pilot attempted restart procedures. The pilot determined that he was not going to make it to the airport so he decided to land the airplane in a field. During the landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.

Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed that a rubber fuel vent line in the right wing was bent across a structural beam kinking the line in a manner that would restrict the airflow through the line. The creased fuel vent was not related to impact damage. The installation of the right wing's vent line was improper.

The pilot reported the airplane veered to the left as the tailwheel lifted off the runway during takeoff for the aerial application flight. He applied right rudder, but the airplane continued to the left. He then applied full right rudder and right brake, at which time, the airplane veered to the right. The airplane continued off the right side of the runway where it crossed a road and traveled through a barbed wire fence prior to coming to rest. The airplane fuselage received substantial damage. The pilot reported there was no malfunction or failure of the airplane.