# Accident 20070503008969A: Pitts S2B, Havelock, NC, May 3, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 2007, 14:15 local time
- Place: Havelock, NC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.9008° N, 76.8806° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9008&lon=-76.8806&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5234A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5234A-2008-10-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman S-2B (registry code 3951011, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-s-2b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Wright R-1820 series (registry code 67020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1820-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS S2B
- Reported engine: WRIGHT R1820*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC07LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070503008969A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT N5234A,A GRUMMAN S-2B OPERATED BY THE COMMEMORATIVE AIRFORCE HAD DEPARTED FRANKLIN, VA (FKN) ENROUTE TO CHERRY POINT MCAS (NKT). ON FINAL APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED TO RUNWAY 5 APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 MILES OUT AT 1100 TO 1200' ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED AN UNCOMMANDED TURN TO THE RIGHT ACCOMPANIED BY A DECREASE IN AIRSPEED. THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. THE CO-PILOT FLYING THE AIRPLANE APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER INSTEAD OF LEFT RUDDER AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN. CREW COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION WAS POOR AS THE PILOT HAD TO ASK THE CO-PILOT WHAT WAS GOING ON. WHEN THE CO-PILOT STATED HE WAS HOLDING RIGHT RUDDER, THE PILOT FEATHERED THE LEFT ENGINE WITHOUT COORDINATION. THE PILOT UNFEATHERED THE ENGINE WHEN HE DID NOT PERCEIVE A DECREASE IN DRAG ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE PERIOD DURING THIS FEATHER/UNFEATHERING CYCLE REDUCED THE THRUST FROM THE LEFT ENGINE AT A CRITICAL STAGE AS THE AIRSPEED DROPPED TO 75 KNOTS. THE CO-PILOT FLEW THE AIRCRAFT TO THE GROUND THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL POWERLINES AND TREES COMING TO REST IN AN ADJACENT FIELD. THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE SEVERED POWERLINES WHICH EVENTUALLY ENGULFED THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING BOTH WINGS TO EXPLODE.

## 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 NYC07LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA107), May 3, 2007: Grumman S-2B (N5234A), Cherry Point, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flightcrew's failure to comply with the published emergency procedure following a loss of engine power on the right engine. Contributing to the accident was the failure of a magneto in the right…

## Other reports on N5234A (1)

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

- [Incident 19960921035369I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960921035369I), Sep 21, 1996: Grumav S2F (N5234A), Fresno, CA, Minor damage. Narrative: on Saturday, September 20, 1996, at 1445 PST, a Grumman S2-F, N5234A, was taking off on runway 29R, at Fresno Air Terminal (fat) and the pilot…

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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