Probable cause
The fatigue fracture of the upper rudder hinge that resulted in a partial separation of the rudder from the airplane during a spray pass.
NTSB analysis
The pilot of the aerial application flight was spraying a field when the top portion of the rudder partially separated from the airplane. The airplane yawed abruptly left and remained in an uncontrollable left yaw for about 10 to 15 minutes, at times pitching uncontrollably downward until the broken portion of the rudder separated. The airplane landed without further incident. Postaccident metallurgical examination of the upper rudder hinge revealed a fatigue fracture.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20LA294 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 20, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Harlan, Iowa
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Rockwell S2R
- N-number
- N1662S
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1973
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 137 (agricultural)
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial application
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.