# NTSB BFO92LA061: Aerotek Pitts S-1S, N4MG, Hopkinsville, KY, May 14, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 13, 1992, 19:00 local (May 14, 1992, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Hopkinsville, KY
- Coordinates: 36.849758, -87.490486 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8498&lon=-87.4905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11786
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11786/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA061

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 2 OIL RING IN THE NUMBER 4 ENGINE CYLINDER RESULTING IN OIL LEAKAGE, LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, AND ENGINE POWER LOSS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,piston - worn
  - engine assembly,ring - frozen
  - engine assembly,ring - fractured
  - fluid,oil - leak
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - guy wire

## Analysis

EN ROUTE FROM MOUNTAIN VIEW, MISSOURI, TO HOPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED FROM 78 PSI TO 70 PSI.  A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE AND A VISUAL CHECK OF THE AIRPLANE WAS ACCOMPLISHED.  THE OIL PRESSURE WAS STILL INDICATING A SAFE PRESSURE, SO THE PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT TO HOPKINSVILLE.  APPROXIMATELY 5 NAUTICAL MILES OUTSIDE OF HOPKINSVILLE, THE ENGINE'S OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AND THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER.  THE PILOT WAS MAKING A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A SINGLE GUY WIRE STRETCHED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY.  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND, NOSED OVER AND SLID APPROXIMATELY 90 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST UPRIGHT.  AN ENGINE INSPECTION REVEALED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL IN THE EXHAUST STACK AND PORT OF THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER.  EXAMINATION OF THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: A BROKEN OIL RING, THE NUMBER 2 RING FROZEN IN THE GROOVE OF THE PISTON, AND ONE OF THE PISTON PLUGS WAS WORN WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE PISTON PLUG'S HOLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4MG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4MG-2016-11-10), registration cancelled 2016-11-10, S/N 1-0016, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aerotek PITTS S-1S
- Registry model: [Aerotek PITTS SPECIAL S-1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotek-pitts-special-s-1s) (registry code 0110301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1-0016
- Airframe hours: 1020
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-B4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Meyer M. Gutman/J. Riedlbauer
- Registered owner: Meyer M. Gutman/J. Riedlbauer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 1992, 12 hours before
- Departed: 2M0, PRINCETON, KY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,422 total, 1,020 in this make and model, 3,180 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HOP, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920513014829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920513014829A), May 13, 1992: Child S1SPITTS, Hopkinsville, KY, Destroyed. Lost oil pressure. Struck guy wire landing on a road. NR4 cylinder worn and broken rings. Pressurized crankcase.

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.

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