- Date
- February 17, 1998, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place
- New Smyrna Beac, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N32TPPitts S-2A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 15, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980217006069A
- Case key
- 3971
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and, the jammed engine starter drive assembly, that prevented an engine restart in flight. A factor was the soft terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that they were performing flat spin maneuvers when the propeller assembly stopped turning, and the engine quit. Attempts, by the pilot, to restart the engine, failed. The pilot surveyed the immediate area for an emergency landing area. The pilot selected a landfill for an emergency landing. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear, sank into the soft soil, and flipped over on the left side. Examination of the airplane disclosed that the starter drive assembly was stuck, and it was also jammed against the engine flywheel. The starter drive assembly was described as being 'gummed up'. After the starter drive assembly was freed the engine started normally. According to the Chief Test Pilot for Aviat Aircraft Inc, Pitts Aviation Enterprises, Inc., and other S-2A pilots, it is not uncommon for the S-2A to experience a loss of engine power during the execution of a flat spin. The normal restart procedure requires the use of the starter assembly. Examination maintenance records disclosed that the airframe maintenance procedures were completed in accordance with prescribed procedures.
Factual narrative
On February 17, 1998, at 1720 eastern standard time, a Pitts S-2A, N32TP, collided with the ground, according to the pilot, as he was attempting an emergency landing five miles north of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The pilot reported that the flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and he had not filed a flight plan. He also stated that visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, the airframe sustained substantial airframe damage. Neither of the two air transport pilots on board the airplane were injured. The flight departed Spruce Creek Airport in Daytona Beach Florida, at 1700.
The pilot reported that they were performing flat spin maneuvers when the propeller assembly stopped turning. At the same time, the pilot realized that the engine had also quit. Attempts, by the pilot, to restart the engine, failed. The pilot surveyed the immediate area for an emergency landing area. The pilot said, he selected a landfill and established an approach for an emergency landing. He recalled, as the airplane touched down, the main landing gear sank into the soft soil, and the airplane flipped over on the left side.
Examination of the airplane disclosed that the starter drive assembly was stuck, and it was also jammed against the engine flywheel. The starter drive assembly was described as being "gummed up".". After the starter drive assembly was freed the engine started normally. The normal restart procedure requires the use of the starter assembly. Examination maintenance records disclosed that the airframe maintenance procedures were completed in accordance with prescribed procedures. According to the pilot the starter assembly had not been serviced in several years.
According to the Chief Test Pilot for Aviat Aircraft Inc, Pitts Aviation Enterprises, Inc., and other S-2A pilots, it is not uncommon for the S-2A to experience a loss of engine power during the execution of a flat spin. The normal in-flight restart procedures are required to recover from this maneuver. (see attached emergency procedures for in-flight engine restart).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N32TP
- Reported as
- Pitts S-2A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2179
- Airframe hours
- 1,390
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1A, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Timothy T. Plunkett
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 12, 1998 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- 44J · Daytona Beach, FL
- Airport
- 44J · Spruce Creek Airport, runway 23, 4,000 × 200 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 600 in this make and model · 6,100 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAB, 360 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.