# Accident 20050521009039A: Aviat PITTSS1S, Lakes Wales, FL, May 21, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 2005, 14:00 local time
- Place: Lakes Wales, FL
- Airport: Chalet Suzanne Air Strip Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.8856° N, 81.6008° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8856&lon=-81.6008&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5WD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5WD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Dodd William J PITTS S-1-S (registry code 7220698, https://openairdocs.org/model/dodd-william-j-pitts-s-1-s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAT PITTSS1S
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 25,000 total, 4 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA05LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA106) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050521009039A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MAY 21, 2005, ^PRIVACY DATA^ THE PILOT OF N5WD, A PITTS MODEL S1S, LANDED HIS EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT AT THE CHALET SUZANNE AIR STRIP LOCATED IN LAKE WALES, FLORIDA, AFTER DISCOVERING STRONG FUEL FUMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER TAXIING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE AIRCRAFT BECAME PARTIALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE PILOT, WHO SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS, WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT, RETRIEVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO ITS RIGHT WING AND AFT FUSELAGE.

## 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 MIA05LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA106), May 21, 2005: Pitts S1S (N5WD), Lake Wales, FL, destroyed. Probable cause: Improper maintenance inspection by other maintenance personnel, which resulted in a loose fuel line fitting going undetected, a fuel leak onto exhaust piping, and a fire.

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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