N4917X

On June 27, 2000, at 0932 central daylight time, a Rockwell S-2R tailwheel equipped agricultural airplane, N4917X, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a forced landing in a soft field near Hondo, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Rusty's Flying Service of Hondo, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight, for which a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated from the Hondo Municipal Airport (HDO) at 0857.

The 317-hour private pilot reported that the engine lost power while he was practicing aerial application maneuvers over open fields 10 miles northwest of the airport. The pilot added that after the engine lost power, he attempted to land on a hard packed dirt road; however, he landed short of the road on a freshly plowed field. The airplane nosed over after the main wheels sank into the soft ground during the landing roll. The airplane came to rest in the inverted position.

Examination of the wreckage, by the FAA inspector, revealed that the vertical stabilizer and the rudder assembly sustained structural damage. Additionally, the top of the canopy and the left wing tip were also damaged. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion.