# NTSB CHI06LA150: Aviat Pitts S-2B, N55H, Darmstadt, IN, June 6, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 2006, 19:15 local (Jun 6, 2006, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Darmstadt, IN - Coordinates: 38.119998, -87.656944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1200&lon=-87.6569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63869 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63869/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA150 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control, and an on-ground collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - ground - landing gear,main gear - overload - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The aerobatic tailwheel airplane sustained substantial damage during landing on a 50 foot wide grass runway when the airplane exited runway 26, impacted high vegetation, and nosed over. The pilot stated, "Normal approach - 100 mph, 900 [feet above ground level] downwind pattern. Touched down center of runway, plane was on the ground and rolling. Everything felt right and normal. Started pulling to right added left rudder, right wing contacted wheat along edge of runway and pulled plane into [field.]" At 1854, the recorded wind was 070 degrees at 7 knots. An examination of the landing gear components disclosed that the left main landing gear fractured/separated during the accident sequence. Portions of the left main landing gear were sent to the NTSB Materials laboratory for analysis. The examination disclosed that the fractures/separations were consistent with overload, with no evidence of any pre-existing anomalies. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 2006, about 1915 central daylight time, an Aviat Pitts S-2B, N55H, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during landing when the airplane exited runway 26 (1,930 feet by 50 feet ,dry grass), impacted high vegetation, and nosed over at the J & S Field Airport, near Darmstadt, Indiana. The personal flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and pilot rated passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Hepler Airport, near St. Wendel, Indiana, at 1910. The pilot's accident report, in part, stated: Normal approach - 100 mph, 900 [feet above ground level] downwind pattern. Touched down center of runway, plane was on the ground and rolling. Everything felt right and normal. Started pulling to right added left rudder, right wing contacted wheat along edge of runway and pulled plane into [field.] At 1854, the recorded wind at the Evansville Regional Airport, near Evansville, Indiana, was 070 degrees at 7 knots. Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors examined the runway and wreckage. The landing gear from the accident airplane was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for detailed examination. Examination of the landing gear components revealed the separations were consistent with overload. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55H-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 5285 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5285 - Airframe hours: 609 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: J & S Recreational Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2005 - Departed: 43IN, ST WENDEL, IN - Destination: 12IN, Darmstadt, IN - Airport: 12IN, J & S Field Airport, runway 26, 1,930 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2005; seat: rear; flight hours: 856 total, 31 in this make and model, 823 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: EVV, 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 20060605013029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060605013029A), Jun 5, 2006: Aviat PITTSS2B, Darmstadt, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) On 06/05/2006, at approximately 1915 CST, while landing at 12IN (grass strip) to the west in dry runway conditions, no wind and 2 people onboard, the… 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.