Accident Ayres S2R-T34 N40071, Sunday 14 August 1988

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Date:	Sunday 14 August 1988
Time:	04:00 LT
Type:	Ayres S2R-T34
Owner/operator:	American Ag Aviation, Inc.
Registration:	N40071
MSN:	6011
Year of manufacture:	1979
Total airframe hrs:	5450 hours
Engine model:	P&W PT6A-34AG
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Huron, CA - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT AT NIGHT, THE AIRPLANE'S VERTICAL STABILIZER COLLIDED WITH A TRANSMISSION WIRE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE VERTICAL STABILIZER & RUDDER WERE DISLOCATED & DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. REALIZING HE HAD LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE ACFT TO IMMEDIATELY TOUCHDOWN & LAND. WHILE ON THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT HIT A 'WATER LINE.'

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: