The pilot reported that, after completing an agricultural spraying flight, he returned to the airport in Hermiston, Oregon.
He added that, on final, he added flaps and became distracted by a spray handle that became open due to vibration. He took his hand off the control stick to close the spray handle, but because the Rockwell S 2R was improperly trimmed, it pitched down severely.
He pitched the nose up to about level, but the main landing gear hit the ground. The airplane bounced onto an irrigation system, the right main landing gear separated, and the airplane spun around before coming to rest.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to wings, fuselage, and empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s distraction due to a spray handle opening and his improper pitch trim setting during final approach, which resulted in an excessive pitchdown when he took his hand off the controls to close the handle.
This March 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
No he has both arms it was mid afternoon when it happened.
Sounds fishy, spray handle is on the left side of the pilot. JIm is correct, slight up trim to keep you out of the crop if you get distracted. Is he a one armed ag pilot? Or maybe he was eating a sandwich, some loads take a long time to apply and return for refill. 😉
AG pilot’s often have trim nose up so that they don’t flying to ground while spraying.
Nose down trim is not a normal approach. setting.