# NTSB FTW89DRG01: Shamgaugh Pitts Special, N3S, San Benito, TX, October 6, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: October 6, 1988, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: San Benito, TX
- Coordinates: 26.13031, -97.630867 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1303&lon=-97.6309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22738
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89DRG01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22738/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89DRG01

## Probable cause

IMPROPER TORQUING OF THE 'B' NUT FITTING ON THE MAIN FUEL SUPPLY LINE TO THE POWERPLANT AT THE FIREWALL AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION.

## 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, cruise
  - fuel system,line fitting - disconnected (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER & THE PILOT TRIED TO GLIDE THE AIRPLANE TO AN AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE. HE SELECTED A FIELD FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING; HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED ROUGH TERRAIN & WAS DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A FUEL LINE HAD SEPARATED AT THE FIRE WALL, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3S-2013-02-25), registration cancelled 2013-02-25, S/N 200, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SHAMGAUGH PITTS SPECIAL (PITTS SPEC)
- Registry model: [Pitts Special S1L](https://openairdocs.org/model/pitts-special-s1l) (registry code 72202V4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 200
- Airframe hours: 502
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-A 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Shelton Prudhomme
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 29, 1989, 6 hours before
- Departed: T66
- Airport: T66

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,000 total, 300 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °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 19881006044749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881006044749A), Oct 6, 1988: Amtrpt PITTSSPECIAL, San Benito, TX, Substantial damage. Approaching airport engine stopped. Crash landed in open field. A fuel line had separated at the firewall.

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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