# Incident 20241117018249I: Asbell William E PITTS S-1E, Marion, TX, November 17, 2024

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 17, 2024, 14:17 local time
- Place: Marion, TX
- Airport: Zuehl
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.4955° N, 98.1588° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4955&lon=-98.1588&mi=10
- Aircraft: N52B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Asbell William E PITTS S-1E (registry code 722111K, https://openairdocs.org/model/asbell-william-e-pitts-s-1e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ASBELL WILLIAM E PITTS S-1E
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 9,782 total, 815 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA043) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241117018249I

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN25LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA043), Nov 17, 2024: Pitts S1E (N52B), Seguin, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…

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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