LAX02LA029

NTSB accident investigation · Aviat S-2C · Chandler, AZ · November 14, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 14, 2001, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC)
Place
Chandler, AZ
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N4HVAviat S-2C
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 23, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
FAA report
20011114032319A
Case key
53774

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Failure of the flight instructor to maintain directional control resulted in a departure from the runway surface and collision with a runway sign.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in command(cfi)Cause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - sign

Analysis

The airplane departed the right side of runway 22R and struck a taxiway sign. During the rollout, the nose of the airplane started to move to the left and the right, and the instructor took control of the airplane. The instructor straightened the nose and continued the rollout. As the airplane slowed, the airplane started to move to the right. The instructor pumped left rudder, but the airplane continued to the right. He applied and held full left rudder, but determined that the airplane would depart the runway. He released the left rudder pedal and intended to stop in the dirt. However, he did not see a runway sign, which collided with the lower right wing. The collision spun the airplane around resulting in substantial damage to the lower wing spar.

Factual narrative

On November 14, 2001, about 1420 mountain standard time, an Aviat (Pitts) S-2C, N4HV, departed the right side of runway 22R and struck a taxiway sign at Chandler, Arizona. Chandler Air Service was operating the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor pilot and commercial pilot undergoing instruction were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed Chandler about 1330. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The instructor stated they completed airwork in the local practice area and returned to the landing pattern. The student was low on the first approach and the instructor had him complete a go-around. The second approach was satisfactory during the approach and touchdown. During the rollout, the nose of the airplane started to move to the left and the right, and the instructor advised the student that he was taking control of the airplane. The instructor straightened the nose and continued the rollout. As the airplane slowed, the airplane started to move to the right. The instructor pumped left rudder, but the airplane continued to the right. He applied and held full left rudder, but determined that the airplane would depart the runway. He released the left rudder pedal and intended to stop in the dirt. However, he did not see a runway sign, which collided with the lower right wing. The collision spun the airplane around and resulted in substantial damage to the lower wing.

Aircraft

Registration
N4HV
Reported as
Aviat S-2C
Category
Airplane
Serial number
6001
Airframe hours
892
Engine
Lycoming AEIO-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Chandler Air Service
Registered owner
Phoenix Pitts Leasing
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
Last inspection
100 hour · June 14, 2001 · 87 hours before
Departed
CHD · Chandler, AZ
Airport
CHD · Chandler, runway 22R, 4,401 × 75 ft, asphalt

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
44
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
February 1, 2001
Seat
Front
Flight hours
3,250 total · 10 in this make and model · 2,986 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 78 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot
Age
57
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Rear

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
280° at 7 knots
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
72 °F, dew point 36 °F
Altimeter
29.92 inHg
Observed at
IWA, 7 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.