# NTSB ATL98LA022: Christen Industries S-2B, N317JK, Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 23, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 23, 1997, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.189746, -80.100791 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1897&lon=-80.1008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3954 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3954/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA022 ## Probable cause The undetermined malfunction of the right brake and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. A factor was the quartering tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - landing gear,normal brake system - undetermined (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane had rolled about 500 feet after touching down on runway 08. When he applied brake pressure to the right wheel, there was no response. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway and the right main landing gear collapsed. Postaccident examination of the airplane disclosed that the right main landing gear assembly sustained major structural damage. The right main landing gear brake assembly was also damaged, and a functional check of the brake assembly was not possible. The left brake assembly was not damaged and functioned normally. There was a quartering tailwind at the approximate time of the landing. Runway 8 is 6001 feet long and 100 feet wide. ## Factual narrative On November 23, 1997, at 1730 eastern standard time, a Christen Industries Pitts-S-2B, N317JK, right main landing gear collapsed, according to the pilot, during a landing roll out on runway 8 at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The instructional flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. According recorded weather data, visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certified flight instructor and the private pilot were not injured. The flight's exact departure time from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was not determined. According to the pilot, they had completed a period of aerobatic training and had returned to the airport for a full stop landing. The pilot reported that the airplane had rolled about 500 feet after touching down on the runway 8. At this point he initiated normal braking to stop the airplane. The pilot stated that, when he applied brake pressure to the right wheel, there was no response. The airplane veered to the left. As the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed. The post- accident examination of the airplane disclosed that there was structural damage to the fuselage above the main landing gear attach fittings. The tail wheel and tail post at the aft portion of the fuselage were torn from the airframe. The right main landing gear assembly sustained major structural damage. The right main landing gear brake assembly was also damaged, and a functional check of the brake assembly was not possible. The left brake assembly was not damaged and functioned normally (see attached FAA Inspector's Statement). During a telephone conversation with the aircraft operator, the operator reported that the airplane veered off the runway approximately 2,200 feet from the threshold of runway 8. The operator stated that the airplane rested on a magnetic heading approximately 270 degrees left of the landing runway heading. According to the operator, there was a quartering tailwind at the approximate time of the attempted landing. The operator also reported that, since this airplane has very sensitive landing characteristics, longer steering springs had been installed on the tail wheel steering assembly (see attached Record of Telephone Conversation). Runway 8 is 6001 feet long and 100 feet wide. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N317JK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N317JK-2002-01-10), registration cancelled 2002-01-10, S/N 5203, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Christen Industries S-2B - Registry model: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/christen-industries-pitts-s-2b) (registry code 2210006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5203 - Airframe hours: 2135 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540-04A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Steven F. Schultz - Registered owner: Flugvergnuegen Inc. - Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1997, 52 hours before - Departed: FXE - Airport: FXE, Fort Lauderdale Executive, runway 8, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,195 total, 54 in this make and model, 1,023 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FXE ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19971123044329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971123044329A), Nov 23, 1997: Child S2BPITTS, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Right main gear collapsed on landing roll. Report no brake. Veered left. Quartering tailwind factor. Gear overload. (-23) aircraft rolled approximately 500 ft… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.