# Accident 19980517009629A: Child S2APITTS, Benton, KS, May 17, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 17, 1998, 19:00 local time
- Place: Benton, KS
- Airport: Benton Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.7810° N, 97.1007° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7810&lon=-97.1007&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31517, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31517-2012-09-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Pitts S-2A (registry code 7220401, https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-s-2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 series (registry code 41522, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHILD S2APITTS
- Reported engine: LYC AEIO360A1E
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,642 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 95 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA160) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980517009629A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT WAS ON TEST FLIGHT FOLLOWING MAINTENANCE, ACFT TOOK OFF AND TURNED RIGHT, WITNESS STATED MAY EXP ENGINE FAILURE (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD RECENTLY INSTALLED THE ENGINE IN THE AIRPLANE AFTER IT HAD BEEN OVERHAULED.  THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS A MAINTENANCE CHECK FLIGHT AND ENGINE BREAK-IN.  THE PILOT CONDUCTED THE NORMAL PREFLIGHT AND ENGINE RUN-UP PROCEDURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL.  HE REPORTED NO ABNORMAL INDICATIONS WERE OBSERVED. THE TAKEOFF AND INITIAL CLIMBOUT WERE NORMAL WITH NO ANOMALIES OBSERVED.  AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST PARTIAL POWER.  HE ESTABLISHED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.  HE TURNED TO THE LEFT. HE REPORTED THE ENGINE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND HE CONDUCTED A FORCED LANDING TO A WHEAT FIELD ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT. A WITNESS REPORTED THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN ABOUT 45 DEGREES AFTER THE ENGINE FAILURE.  HE REPORTED,  'THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ON THIS -45 DEGREE LINE, WINGS LEVEL AND IN CONTROL UNTIL IMPACT.'  THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT DURING THE POWER-ON PORTION OF THE FLIGHT, NO SMOKE OR VAPOR TRAILS WERE SEEN.  AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT, THE PROPELLER CONT                                 INUED TO WINDMILL. DURING THE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE,NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES TO THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE WAS NOTED.  THE ENGINE WAS PUT ON A TEST STAND AND IT OPERATED NOMALLY.                                              (-23) AIRCRAFT FUELED WITH 9.6 GALLONS 100L; TOOK OFF ON RUNWAY 16 WITH R/H TURNOUT. EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEM AND UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO AIRPORT. CRASHED IN WHEAT FIELD APPROXIMATELY .3 MILE SOUTH OF BENTON, KANSAS AIRPORT (1K1). FLIGHT WAS A TEST FLIGHT FOLLOWING ENGINE OVERHAUL AND EMPANAGE RECOVERING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA160), May 18, 1998: Pitts S-2A (N31517), Benton, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot did not flare the airplane properly during the forced landing. A factor was the engine failure for undetermined reasons.

## Other reports on N31517 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19820702048809I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820702048809I), Jul 2, 1982: Child S2APITTS (N31517), Rock Springs, WY, Minor damage. Pilot ground looped on roll out. Pilot stated he encountered a crosswind while landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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