N8522V

On July 8, 1993, at approximately 2000 central daylight time, a Rockwell International S-2R, N8522V, was substantially damaged when it collided with a levee at liftoff from a private strip near Bono, Arkansas. The airplane, flown by a commercial pilot, was departing on what was to have been a local aerial application flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.

According to the operator, the airplane was fully loaded with chemical when it departed to the north on the 2,500 foot dirt airstrip. The pilot stated that the airplane "failed" to lift off the runway and the landing gear struck a three foot high levee at the end of the runway. The main gear struts were broken and the gear was swept back at the time of the collision. The tail wheel also separated. The pilot flew the airplane around the local area for about 45 minutes to burn off fuel and then executed a no gear landing back at the takeoff point without further incident. Additional damage was sustained by the airplane during the landing. The pilot stated that the engine sounded normal and appeared to be developing full power during the takeoff and flight. The length of the strip would not allow for a successful rejected takeoff.