# NTSB CHI02LA227: Jackovich Pitts S1D, N29FJ, Donahue, IA, July 31, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2002, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Donahue, IA - Coordinates: 41.716667, -90.675003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7167&lon=-90.6750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA -- DesMoines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55480 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55480/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55480 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA227 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - engine accessories,engine starter - not installed - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis While maneuvering, the engine and propeller stopped completely and a forced landing was executed into a bean field. On landing the airplane flipped over completely, coming to rest upright again, and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported entering a departure stall with full power which resulted in a relatively high pitch attitude. Immediately prior to the stall, the power was reduced to idle and the nose dropped rapidly as the aircraft stalled. The pilot reported that the aircraft may have experienced some rearward motion due to the high pitch attitude and abruptness of the stall. During the stall, the pilot stated that the engine and propeller both stopped completely. Attempts to start the propeller windmilling were not successful. The aerobatic engine had been modified to exhibit an "enhanced compression ratio", which increased propeller resistance to windmilling during the restart attempt. The amateur-built airplane did not have an engine starter installed. A post-accident engine examination revealed no anomolies determined to have existed prior the accident and/or attribuitable to the loss of power. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2002, at 1100 central daylight time, an amateur-built Jackovich Pitts S1D, N29FJ, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power. The pilot departed the Davenport Municipal Airport (DVN), Davenport, Iowa, at 1030 cdt and was practicing in the local area when the engine and propeller both stopped during a stall. Attempts to restart the engine were not successful. An emergency landing was executed into a bean field approximately 7 miles north-northwest of the Davenport Airport. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot did not report any injuries. In his written statement, the pilot reported entering a departure stall at a relatively steep attitude and with full power applied. Just prior to stall, he reduced power to idle. As the airplane stalled, the nose dropped "rapidly and vertically through the horizon". The pilot stated "I believe the aircraft may have had some reverse direction relative wind producing what some ... refer to as a 'whip stall'." Both the engine and propeller stopped completely as the nose dropped through the horizon, according to the pilot. Attempts to start the propeller windmilling were not successful. The pilot, then, proceeded "in best glide profile" to his selected forced landing site. Post-accident examination revealed no anomalies with the engine. The pilot stated that the engine and aircraft were performing normally during the flight prior to the stall. Although the propeller was damaged during the landing, engine continuity was verified through rotation of the crankshaft. The piloted noted that the engine was modified to exhibit an enhanced compression ratio (10.5:1) and the propeller installed was a wood core, composite construction. In addition, due to weight and balance considerations, an engine starter was not installed in the aircraft. Approximately 8 gallons of fuel were found in the fuel tanks. No evidence of fuel contamination was noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29FJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29FJ), registered now, S/N 7-0513, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Jackovich Pitts S1D - Registry model: [Jackovich Steven J PITTS S1D](https://openairdocs.org/model/jackovich-steven-j-pitts-s1d) (registry code 7221233) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-0513 - Airframe hours: 375 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 3, 2002, 4 hours before - Departed: DVN, Davenport, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 16, 2002; seat: single; flight hours: 1,029 total, 435 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: DVN, 7 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 20020731027549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020731027549A), Jul 31, 2002: Amtr PITTSS1D, Davenport, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 31, at 1100 central daylight time, N29FJ, a pitts S-1D experimental aircraft piloted by steven jackovitch, a commercial pilot, was involved in an… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55480. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 357 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement with Photos (item 2, .PDF, 12 photos, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement%20with%20Photos-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.