# NTSB ERA17LA031: Haddow William H Pitts Special S 1, N27832, New Bern, NC, October 29, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 2016, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: New Bern, NC - Coordinates: 35.072776, -77.043052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0728&lon=-77.0431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94313 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94313/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94313 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA031 ## Probable cause A loss of biplane control during aerobatic maneuvers for reasons that could not be determined because a portion of the biplane's flight control system was not recovered and could not be tested. ## 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: [Haddow William H PITTS SPECIAL S-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7220797), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Haddow William H PITTS SPECIAL S-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7220797), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Haddow William H PITTS SPECIAL S-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7220797), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Haddow William H PITTS SPECIAL S-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7220797), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Haddow William H PITTS SPECIAL S-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7220797), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Haddow William H PITTS SPECIAL S-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7220797), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that he was practicing aerobatics in the experimental, amateur-built biplane over a river. During the maneuvers, as he input left aileron, the control stick was stiff, and he believed he observed abnormal movement of the upper left aileron. He then applied more force to free the control stick and input right aileron; however, the airplane rolled left and entered a spin. The pilot was unable to recover from the spin and subsequently parachuted from the airplane. The airplane came to rest at the bottom of the river. Examination of the recovered wreckage revealed that most of the left wings' parts, including the ailerons and aileron control tubes, were not recovered. As such, control continuity could not be verified or tested. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 2016, about 1600 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Pitts Special S-1, N27832, was substantially damaged when it impacted a river, following a loss of control during aerobatic flight near Coastal Regional Airport (EWN), New Bern, North Carolina. The commercial pilot incurred minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the commercial pilot as a personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed EWN about 1545. The pilot reported that he was practicing aerobatics about 3 miles northeast of EWN, over the Neuse River. During the maneuvers, as he input left aileron, the control stick was stiff and he believed he observed abnormal movement of the upper left aileron. He then applied more force to free the control stick and input right aileron; however, the airplane continued to roll left and entered a spin. The pilot was unable to recover from the spin and subsequently parachuted from the airplane. Both the pilot and the airplane came to rest in the Neuse River. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and the pilot revealed substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. They also noted that a majority of the left wings, including the ailerons and aileron control tubes, were not recovered from the river. As such, control continuity could not be verified. The single-seat, bi-wing, fixed-tailwheel airplane, was assembled from a kit and issued an FAA experimental airworthiness certificate in 1994. Its most recent annual conditional inspection was completed on July 21, 2016. At that time, the airplane had accrued 170 total hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27832](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27832-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N WHPS-0086, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HADDOW WILLIAM H PITTS SPECIAL S 1 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Haddow William H PITTS SPECIAL S-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/haddow-william-h-pitts-special-s-1) (registry code 7220797) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: WHPS-0086 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 170 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 21, 2016, 35 hours before - Departed: EWN, New Bern, NC - Destination: EWN, New Bern, NC - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 29, 2016; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,430 total, 70 in this make and model, 1,366 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: EWN, 3 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 20161029022679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161029022679A), Oct 29, 2016: Haddow William H PITTS SPECIAL S-1, New Bern, NC, Destroyed. Pilot stated that while practicing aerobatics maneuvers over the water the controls stuck. Controls stuck after performing a left and right aileron roll and a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94313. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456817&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456818&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photo Array (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 574 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456819&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.