- Date
- November 9, 1986, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- La Porte, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N35DHHouk Pitts S1-S
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19861109054239A
- Case key
- 22298
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Propeller/rotor contact to person
Ignition system,magneto - separationCause
Judgment - poorFactor
Ignition system,high tension wiring - crackedCause
Maintenance,inspection - inadequateFactor
Procedures/directives - improperCause
Analysis
A mechanic was attempting to pull the prop through one revolution prior to starting the engine on a pitts S1-S. Due to a bad p-lead on the magneto's the engine fired, causing the prop to strike the right leg of the mechanic. The mechanics leg was amputated just above the right knee.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N35DH
- Reported as
- Houk Pitts S1-S
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 524620912
- Airframe hours
- 162
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William R. Cooke
- Departed
- T41 · La Porte, TX
- Airport
- T41 · La Porte Arpt.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 678 total · 152 in this make and model · 534 as pilot in command · 46 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.