# NTSB CEN13LA467: Christen Industries Pitts S-2B, N519ZB, Dalton, OH, July 16, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2013, 19:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Dalton, OH - Coordinates: 40.871387, -81.886108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8714&lon=-81.8861&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 87705 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA467 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87705/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87705 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA467 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing aerobatic maneuvers when the engine stopped producing power. He was unable to restart the engine and made a forced landing to a grass runway. The pilot landed the airplane half-way down the runway, but he was unable to stop it before it overran the runway and struck a utility pole. A postaccident test run of the engine and examinations of the engine and airplane did not reveal any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2013, at 1940 eastern daylight time, N519ZB, a Christen Industries INC Pitts S2-B, sustained substantial damage when it made a forced landing to a private grass runway after a total loss of engine power near Dalton, Ohio. The commercial pilot and the passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. No flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed the Akron/Canton Regional Airport (CAK), Akron, Ohio, at 1915. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. In a written statement, the pilot stated that he departed CAK and flew to his designated "aerobatic box" to perform aerobatics. He said that during an upright, normal spin to the left, the engine stopped producing power. At that time, the airplane was about 3,300 feet above the ground and he prepared to make a forced landing to a short and narrow private grass runway. The pilot tried to re-start the engine several times during the emergency descent, but to no avail. The pilot landed half-way down the runway but was unable to stop. The airplane overran the runway and struck a utility pole, which resulted in substantial damage to the left, upper and lower wings. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector performed an examination of the airplane and engine and no preaccident anomalies were identified that would have caused the engine to stop producing power. He then performed a test run of the engine on the airframe. The engine started immediately and ran through its full power range without interruptions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N519ZB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N519ZB), registered now, S/N 5142, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHRISTEN INDUSTRIES INC PITTS 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: 5142 - Airframe hours: 1077 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540 SER 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pittsbird LLC - Registered owner: Pittsbird LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 3, 2013 - Departed: CAK, Akron, OH - Destination: CAK, Akron, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 21, 2012; seat: rear; flight hours: 444 total, 125 in this make and model, 395 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: CAK, 14 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 20130716013509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130716013509A), Jul 16, 2013: Christen Industries Inc PITTS S-2B, Dalton, OH, Substantial damage. N519ZB departed akron fulton airport, with [privacy data omitted] acting as PIC with a new student pilot, en route to [privacy data omitted] aerobatic box… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87705. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403658&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403659&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.