# NTSB LAX06LA190: Aviat Pitts S-2B, N117PS, Antioch, CA, June 3, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 3, 2006, 14:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: Antioch, CA - Coordinates: 37.933334, -121.783332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9333&lon=-121.7833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63848 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63848/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06LA190 ## Probable cause The loss of oil pressure due to metal pieces from the number 5 piston skirt in the oil system, which prevented the oil valve top ball valve from seating. The muddy terrain was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - fluid,oil - low pressure (cause) - engine assembly,piston - fractured (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - muddy (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot shut down the engine and force-landed the airplane in a field following a loss of oil pressure while performing an aerobatic maneuver. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed-over in muddy terrain. Post accident examination showed that a portion of the number 5 cylinder piston skirt had fractured and was located within the oil valve. The oil valve works through the means of gravity operated ball valves which includes two balls and a spring. During normal flight, the top ball valve is closed and the bottom ball valve is open. During inverted flight, the opposite is true. In this location, the fractured piece could prevent the ball assembly of the oil valve from seating. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 2006, at 1435 Pacific daylight time, an Aviat Aircraft Incorporated Pitts S-2B, N117PS, lost oil pressure in flight and the pilot performed a precautionary landing to a hay field in Antioch, California. The airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private company and the pilot was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local, personal aerobatic flight. The pilot departed from Livermore Municipal Airport, Livermore, California, at 1400. The pilot reported that while performing an aerobatic sequence, the engine lost oil pressure and he elected to perform a precautionary landing in a field. The pilot shutdown the engine after 15 seconds when he had his landing spot secured. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over in the muddy terrain. The Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator examined the engine following the accident. The engine oil sump contained approximately 9 quarts of oil. The oil pressure gauge was tested and no operational anomalies were noted. The engine was test-run; however, the oil pressure gauge did not indicate positive pressure. The oil pump was removed from the accessory case and was turned by hand. Oil was present within the oil pump and coated the gears and shaft. No heat signatures were evident. The airplane was equipped with a Christen inverted oil system. The oil valve works through the means of gravity operated ball valves which includes two balls and a spring. During normal flight, the top ball valve is closed and the bottom ball valve is open. During inverted flight, the opposite is true. The oil valve was disassembled. Within the valve, a metal piece approximately 0.5-inch in length was identified between the two balls. Later disassembly of the engine showed that portions of the number 5 piston skirt had fractured from the piston. Pieces of the fractured skirt were identified in the oil sump and filter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N117PS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N117PS-2008-11-14), registration cancelled 2008-11-14, S/N 5346, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat Aircraft Inc 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: 5346 - Airframe hours: 2256.3 - Engines: Textron Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Yuichi Takagi - Registered owner: Team Foumori LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2006, 49 hours before - Departed: LVK, Livermore, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,285 total, 280 in this make and model, 2,095 as pilot in command, 139 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: LVK, 19 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 20060603009439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060603009439A), Jun 3, 2006: Aviat PITTSS2B, Antioch, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft made a soft field landing in a hayfield in Antioch, CA due to loss of oil pressure at 031430PDT. Aircraft flipped over and came to rest… 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.