# NTSB ERA09LA388: Christen Industries Pitts S-2B, N113DW, Oakland, MS, July 8, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 8, 2009, 12:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place: Oakland, MS
- Coordinates: 34.084167, -89.884445 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0842&lon=-89.8844&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74229
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA388
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74229/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74229
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA388

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power while maneuvering (after performing aerobatics) for undetermined reasons.

## 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: 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: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of aerobatic airplane departed an airport located about 16 miles from the accident site with approximately 18 gallons of fuel on board. He had completed several aerobatic maneuvers and was in a turn when the engine began to sputter and subsequently lost power. The airplane then descended at a 45-degree angle until it impacted trees, and came to rest in a heavily wooded area. Evidence of a fuel spill was present at the accident site. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal evidence of pre-impact malfunctions. At the time of the accident, the airplane had been operated for about 750 total hours, and about 40 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed 8 months earlier.

## Factual narrative

On July 8, 2009, about 1205 central daylight time, a Christen Industries Pitts S-2B, N113DW, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following loss of engine power, while maneuvering near Oakland, Mississippi. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight that was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to a bill of sale, the pilot purchased the airplane on April 9, 2008. The airplane was manufactured in 1986 and issued a normal and acrobatic standard airworthiness certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to an FAA inspector, the airplane departed an airport located about 16 miles from the accident site, with approximately 18 gallons of fuel on board. Witnesses reported that the airplane was in a left turn when the engine began to "sputter," and subsequently quit. The airplane then descended about a 45-degree angle until it impacted trees, and came to rest in a heavily wooded area. One witness stated that the pilot had performed a few "commonplace" aerobatic maneuvers and was in a turn when he heard the engine make two loud "coughs," accompanied with "large bursts of smoke," before it went "totally silent." Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane's left wing was separated. The right wing remained attached; however, it sustained damage consistent with multiple tree strikes. Evidence of a fuel spill was present at the accident site. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming AEIO-540 series engine, which was partially buried in the ground. The wreckage was recovered to a storage facility in Griffin, Georgia, where it was examined by two FAA inspectors. The examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunctions. A "small" amount of fuel was recovered from the airframe electric boost pump. The fuel did not appear consistent in color with 100-low-lead aviation gasoline. Subsequent testing revealed that the fuel had a 98 octane rating; however, due to the sample size it could not be checked for contamination. At the time of the accident, the airplane had been operated for about 750 total hours, and about 40 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performance on November 16, 2008.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N113DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N113DW-2013-07-08), registration cancelled 2013-07-08, S/N 5103, built 1986 (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: 5103
- Airframe hours: 750
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540 SER 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 2008, 41 hours before
- Departed: PMU, Batesville, MS
- Destination: NQA, Millington, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 650 total, 150 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: UOX, 31 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 20090708012769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090708012769A), Jul 8, 2009: Aviat PITTSS2B, Oakland, MS, Destroyed. As indicated by witness the pilot had been performing aerobatic manueveurs over a wooded area as inicated by witnesses. The pilot indicated the aerobatics were…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74229. 903 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331707&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331701&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statements (item 3, .PDF, 195 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331702&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- Maintenance Records (excerpt) (item 4, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331703&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20(excerpt)-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.

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