# NTSB LAX02LA074: Aviat Pitts S-2B, N300PS, Hawthorne, CA, February 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 2, 2002, 11:19 local (19:19 UTC) - Place: Hawthorne, CA - Coordinates: 33.926944, -118.336387 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9269&lon=-118.3364&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 54116 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54116/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54116 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA074 ## Probable cause Failure of the student to maintain directional control of the airplane on the landing rollout and failure of the CFI to adequately supervise the flight. A contributing factor was the decreased tension of the right main landing gear shock cord/bungee. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - worn (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - taxiway light ## Analysis On the landing rollout the airplane veered to the right of runway centerline and struck a taxi light with the left wing. The purpose of the flight was to practice full stall touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The student had conducted five touch-and-go takeoffs and landings to a full stall with no discrepancies noted. The sixth touch-and-go landing was the accident landing. The CFI observed that the student had the control stick full aft and was applying left rudder to correct for the drift to the right. As the airplane continued to drift to the right the CFI applied full left rudder; however, the left wing struck the taxi light. During the airplane inspection it was observed that the tension of the right main landing gear bungee cord was slack. No further mechanical anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On February 2, 2002, at 1119 Pacific standard time, an Aviat Pitts S-2B, N300PS, veered off runway 25 and ground looped after landing at the Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR), Hawthorne, California. The airplane was operated by Hart Air of Long Beach, California, as an instructional flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the CFI student were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed the Long Beach/Daugherty Field Airport (LGB), Long Beach, California, about 1030. No flight plan had been filed. The Safety Board Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) interviewed the CFI student pilot. The CFI student stated that there was no wind. The landing was normal, and on centerline, when the airplane started to drift to the right of centerline. He moved the control stick to the full aft position and engaged the left rudder; however, the airplane continued off the runway, ground looped, and struck a taxi light. In the CFI's written statement, he reported that this was a training flight with a student who had accumulated about 15 hours of dual instruction from him in this airplane. The purpose of the flight was to perform full stall landings at LGB and HHR. They performed three touch-and-go landings at LGB with no discrepancies noted. On the third touch-and-go landing they requested a straight out departure for HHR. Upon reaching HHR they were given permission by the local tower controller to remain in left traffic for the touch-and-go's. The CFI reported that the first two landings were uneventful. Initially the third landing was also uneventful. The touchdown was at a full stall with the tail wheel contacting the runway first, followed by the main landing gear. The CFI stated that as the airplane transitioned to the landing rollout, the airplane began to turn to the right. He did not think this was unusual, and verified that the student had the control stick full aft, and was applying left rudder to correct the turn to the right. About 8 degrees from centerline the airplane was still departing to the right of the runway. The CFI began to apply left rudder; however, the airplane continued to the right and the left wing struck a runway light. After securing the airplane, the CFI and student got out of the airplane to inspect it. The CFI noted that the right bungee door was extended open about 2 inches. They got back into the airplane and taxied to a local fixed based operator (FBO). After getting out of the airplane, the CFI again looked at the right wing. He lifted up and pulled down on the wing to check the wing tension. He stated that the bungee "did not act in a normal manner, and did not provide stiffness to the right gear." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and landing gear assembly. According to the FAA inspector, he did note that the right landing gear assembly had more "play" than the left side. He further stated that there were no mechanical anomalies noted with the airplane. In reviewing the Aviat maintenance manual, there is not a time life specified on the bungee cord. However, the manual does make reference to checks of the shock cords/bungees on a daily basis when the airplane is in operation, and at the 50-, 100-, 1000-hour inspections. The maintenance manual also indicated that on every flight and every 50-hour inspection the shock cords/bungees should be inspected for proper tension. At the 100-hour inspection the landing gear should be serviced. Prior to the accident Hart Air had ordered a new set of bungee cords; however, they had not received them at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N300PS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N300PS-2003-06-11), registration cancelled 2003-06-11, S/N 5340, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat Pitts S-2B - Registry model: [Aviat PITTS S-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-pitts-s-2b) (registry code 2210403) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5340 - Airframe hours: 313 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hart Air - Registered owner: Hart Pitts Group - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2001, 76 hours before - Departed: LGB, Long Beach, CA - Destination: HHR, HAWTHORNE, CA - Airport: HHR, Hawthorne Muni, runway 25, 4,956 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 58; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 3, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 15,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 15,500 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 6, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,500 total, 9 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: HHR ## 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 20020202002769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020202002769A), Feb 2, 2002: Aviat PITTSS2B, Hawthorne, CA, No damage. (-23) On February 2, 2002, at approximately 11:19 pacific standard time, an Aviat pitts S2B sustained substantial damage to the left lower wing tip after a… ## Other investigations on N300PS (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX03LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA081), Feb 1, 2003: Pitts S-2B (N300PS), Long Beach, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive pull up, which resulted in a failure to obtain/maintain flying speed and a subsequent stall/mush. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54116. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, CFI (item 1, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2,%20CFI-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Student (item 2, .PDF, 344 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387729&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2,%20Student-Redacted.PDF - Aviat Aircraft Owner's and Maintenance Manual Excerpts (item 3, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183645&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aviat%20Aircraft%20Owner%27s%20and%20Maintenance%20Manual%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Maintenance Record Excerpts (item 4, .PDF, 432 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387730&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Record%20Excerpts-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. --- 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.