20241117018249I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Asbell William E PITTS S-1E · Marion, TX · November 17, 2024

Date: November 17, 2024 · 14:17 local
Place: Marion, TX
Airport: Zuehl
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N52B
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN25LA043
Reported as: Asbell William E Pitts S-1E
Reported engine: Lycoming I0360 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Airline transport
Pilot’s flight hours: 9,782 total815 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days

N52BRegistered now · Asbell William E PITTS S-1ES/N 8-0084 · Built 1988 Airframe modelAsbell William E PITTS S-1E Engine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft was being used for practice aerobatic sequence. Initiated snap roll entry with full aft elevator, followed by full left rudder. Immediately the left rudder pedal lost resistance, very easy to push it to the firewall. Momentary loss of aircraft control as it went into a spiral. Recovery to upright normal flight accomplished with aileron and elevator.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT WAS BEING USED FOR PRACTICE AEROBATIC SEQUENCE. INITIATED SNAP ROLL ENTRY WITH FULL AFT ELEVATOR, FOLLOWED BY FULL LEFT RUDDER. IMMEDIATELY THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL LOST RESISTANCE, VERY EASY TO PUSH IT TO THE FIREWALL. MOMENTARY LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL AS IT WENT INTO A SPIRAL. RECOVERY TO UPRIGHT NORMAL FLIGHT ACCOMPLISHED WITH AILERON AND ELEVATOR.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN25LA043Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSeguin, TXThe improper construction of the rudder cable assembly by the airplane builder, which resulted in the fatigue failure of the left rudder cable during the landing roll and the pilot’s subsequent inability to maintain directional control.Nov 17, 2024 · Substantial damage