# Accident 20040103000369A: Amtr S1C, Fort Worth, TX, January 3, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 3, 2004, 12:40 local time
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.5317° N, 97.3081° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5317&lon=-97.3081&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9AQ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9AQ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Pitts S-1C (registry code 72202LV, https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-s-1c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR S1C
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A1B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 250 total, 18 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA056) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040103000369A

## Narrative

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

(-23) INSPECTOR'S STATEMENT: MY NAME IS WILLIS H. POWER; I'M EMPLOYED AS AN AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR AT THE FORTH WORTH FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE. ON JANUARY 3, 2004 I INVESTIGATED AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVOLVING N9AQ S/N 568-H, A PITTS SPECIAL S-1S EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT OPERATED BY MR. JOE ALLEN SCOTT. MR. SCOTT HOLDS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE NO. 453395174 AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 250 HOURS AS PILOT IN COMMAND WITH 18 HOURS IN THE PITTS. MR. SCOTT DEPARTED SPINKS AIRPORT (KFWS) ON A 14 CFR 91 PLEASURE FLIGHT AND INTENDED TO LAND AT A FRIEND'S PRIVATE AIRSTRIP KNOWN AS RAFTER J, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 11/2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SPINKS AT APPROXIMATELY 12:40 PM CDT (GPS CO-ORDINATES LAT 32 DEGREES 31.575 LONG 97 DEGREES 16.819 ELEV. 669.2 FEET ASL). MR. SCOTT MADE A NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING ON THE 40' X 2800' GRASS STRIP AT RAFTER J. SHORTLY AFTER GROUND CONTACT THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE RIGHT GEAR STRUT DUG INTO THE GRASS FOR ABOUT 75 FEET BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER COMING TO REST INVERTED. MR. SCOTT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE PROP, LANDING GEAR, VERTICAL STABILIZER, ENGINE, AND UPPER WING SURFACE. A WITNESS INTERVIEWED ON-SCENE STATED THE APPROACH AND LANDING APPEARED NORMAL AND SAW THE WHEEL SEPARATE DURING ROLLOUT. DURING THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS WERE NOTED. THE VISIBILITY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS BETTER THAN 10 MILES WITH A SOUTH WIND BLOWING STRAIGHT DOWN THE RUNWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 10 KNOTS. THE PITTS SPECIAL S-1S DRAWINGS SHOW AN INTEGRAL AXLE SHAFT AND GEAR LEG ASSEMBLY WITH A FLANGED WELDED INBOARD OF THE AXLE NUT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING THE BRAKE CALIPER BACKING PLATE. THE GEAR ASSEMBLY ON N9AQ DID NOT CONFORM TO THESE DRAWINGS. THE AXLE SHAFT HAD BEEN CUT OFF NEXT TO THE BACKING PLATE FLANGE AND AN AXLE SHAFT SIMILAR TO WHAT IS USED ON CESSNA SPRING GEAR WAS BOLTED TO THE FLANGE WITH FOUR 1/4" BOLTS. AN OLD CRACK ON THE FLANGE LOCATED NEXT TO THE WELD AND ABOVE THE LOWER BOLT WAS NOTED. A NEW FRACTURE HAD PROPAGATED FROM THE ENDS OF THIS CRACK AROUND THE LOWER AXLE SHAFT BOLT. THE THREE REMAINING AXLE SHAFT BOLTS FRACTURED AND THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^                                                                                    ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## 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 FTW04LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA056), Jan 3, 2004: Pitts S-1S (N9AQ), Burleson, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of the right main gear wheel, during landing, due to the improper maintenance by unknown maintenance personnel on the right main landing gear assembly.

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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