# NTSB CHI88DEM04: Anderson Pitts S-1S, N528MS, Mt. Pleasant, MI, April 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1988, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Mt. Pleasant, MI
- Coordinates: 43.590408, -84.769569 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5904&lon=-84.7696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13866
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88DEM04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13866/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88DEM04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering
  - maintenance,design change - improper, manufacturer (cause)
  - fuel system,line - inadequate (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING SOME INVERTED MANEUVERS WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT WAS UNABLE TO. HE THEN EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FARM FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND STRUCK A FURROW IN THE CULTIVATED SOIL CAUSING IT TO FLIP OVER ONTO ITS BACK, SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT. ACCORDING TO A MECHANIC, THE ENGINE QUIT AS A RESULT OF AN INCORRECT FLOP TUBE INSTALLED IN THE INVERTED FUEL SYSTEM WHEN THE HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT WAS CONSTRUCTED. THE INCORRECT PART WAS CONSTRUCTED OF GARDEN HOSE MATERIAL AND WAS INCAPABLE OF SUPPLYING FUEL TO THE AIRCRAFT INVERTED AND WHEN THE FUEL QUANTITY WAS LOW.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N528MS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ANDERSON PITTS S-1S
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: EGA-1
- Airframe hours: 295
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Murray C. Shaver
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 11, 1987, 19 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 11,591 total, 75 in this make and model, 9,600 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19880410009569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880410009569A), Apr 10, 1988: Amtrpt PITTSSPECS1C, Mt Pleasant, MI, Substantial damage. Engine quit during inverted flight. Crash landed. Wrong fuel tank pick up hose not weighted for inverted flight.

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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