# NTSB CHI02LA091: Aviat Pitts S-2B, N29RG, Milwaukee, WI, March 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 2002, 15:38 local (21:38 UTC) - Place: Milwaukee, WI - Location: 43.1315° N, 88.0074° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from LAWRENCE J TIMMERMAN (MWC), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1315&lon=-88.0074&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Milwaukee FSDO, Textron Lycoming - NTSB case key (mKey): 54368 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54368/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54368 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA091 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the telephone pole. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - pole (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - plowed/furrowed ## Analysis The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power approximately three minutes after departure and the pilot performed a forced landing into an agricultural field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a telephone pole. During a post-accident inspection the engine was started and ran without anomalies between 600 and 800 rpm. The engine was not run at a higher rpm due to vibrations caused by the bent propeller. The engine responded to throttle control inputs and the engine was shut down using the mixture control. The propeller was removed, straightened, and reinstalled on the engine. The engine was subjected to a static power-run and operated with no anomalies at 2,500 rpm for approximately 10 minutes. No anomalies were found with the fuel system and/or engine that could be associated with any preexisting condition that would have precluded the normal operation of the engine. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 2002, at 1538 central standard time, an Aviat Pitts S-2B, N29RG, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with a telephone pole while executing a forced landing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, reported minor injuries. The local flight departed the Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport (MWC), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at 1531. According to MWC control tower records the accident airplane departed northeast bound at 1531 and three minutes after departure the pilot reported a loss of engine power. According to the pilot's written statement, "Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, while at cruise, the engine suddenly quit. I looked for a place to land & spotted a field with a limited flat spot for landing. I did not have enough altitude to make an airport. While landing on the field, the aircraft struck a pole." The pilot reported, "Prior to exiting the aircraft, I turned off all switches, including gas." Inspectors with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Milwaukee Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) performed the post-accident inspection of the airframe and engine. Fuel was found in the main fuel tank, main fuel sump, engine driven fuel pump, and all fuel distribution lines. The engine driven fuel pump operated when the engine was rotated. The electric fuel pump operated when electrical power was applied to the pump. The mixture and throttle controls regulated fuel flow in all positions without anomalies. When the engine was rotated both magnetos produced a spark on all leads and there was compression on all cylinders. The engine was started and ran without anomalies between 600 and 800 rpm. The engine was not run at a higher rpm due to vibrations caused by the bent propeller. The engine responded to throttle control inputs and the engine was shut down using the mixture control. The propeller was removed, straightened, and reinstalled on the engine. The engine was subjected to a static power-run and operated with no anomalies at 2,500 rpm for approximately 10 minutes. No anomalies were found with the fuel system and/or engine that could be associated with any preexisting condition that would have precluded the normal operation of the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29RG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29RG), registered now, S/N 5229, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat Pitts S-2B - Registry model: [Aviat PITTS S-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-pitts-s-2b) (registry code 2210308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5229 - Airframe hours: 430 - Engines: Textron Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ralph Gary Gorenstein - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2001, 40 hours before - Departed: MWC, Milwaukee, WI - Destination: MWC, Milwaukee, WI - Airport: MWC, Lawrence J. Timmerman ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 4, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,500 total, 700 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: MWC, 2 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 20020313006009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020313006009A), Mar 13, 2002: Aviat PITTSS2B, Milwaukee, WI, No damage. (-23) On March 13, 2002, at 1540 CDT a pitts S-2B, N29RG, registered to ralph g. gorenstein, collided with a power pole while attempting a forced landing in an… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54368. 999 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393374&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Report (item 2, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40175294&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Report-Master.PDF - Textron Lycoming Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 241 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40175295&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Textron%20Lycoming%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.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.