# NTSB LAX93LA359: Christen Industries Pitts S-2B, N88EW, Hawthorne, CA, September 20, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 1993, 09:04 local (16:04 UTC) - Place: Hawthorne, CA - Coordinates: 33.909656, -118.340896 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9097&lon=-118.3409&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28481 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA359 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28481/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA359 ## Probable cause dual student's failure to maintain directional control and improper use of the rudder and the CFI's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## 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) - rudder - improper use of, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT/DUAL STUDENT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION IN A CONVENTIONAL GEAR (TAILWHEEL) AIRPLANE. DURING THE ROLL-OUT ON THE SECOND LANDING, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE DUAL STUDENT TO APPLY LEFT RUDDER. THE DUAL STUDENT APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER AND THE AIRPLANE SWERVED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE VIOLENT LEFT TURN AND THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 1993, at 0904 hours Pacific daylight time, a Christen Industries, Inc., Pitts S-2B, N88EW, ground looped during the landing roll-out on runway 25 at Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne, California. The pilots were conducting a local visual flight rules instructional flight. The airplane, operated by the flight instructor, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated airline transport pilot/flight instructor (CFI) nor the certificated private pilot/dual student was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Hawthorne Municipal Airport at 0840 hours. The CFI reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, and in a subsequent telephone interview, that the he was providing dual instruction so that the private pilot could "check-out" in conventional gear (tailwheel) airplanes. The dual student landed normally on the second landing. During the landing roll-out, the airplane began to drift to the right. The CFI instructed the dual student to apply left rudder to arrest the drift; however, the dual student applied "full left" rudder and the airplane swerved violently to the left. The CFI could not arrest the turn and the airplane "ground looped." The dual student reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that during the landing roll-out the airplane began to drift slowly to the left. The dual student stated he applied full right rudder while the instructor also applied full right rudder and right brake. The airplane continued to turn to the left and exited the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88EW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88EW), registered now, S/N 5073, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Christen Industries PITTS S-2B - Registry model: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/christen-industries-pitts-s-2b) (registry code 2210006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5073 - Airframe hours: 1102 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540-A4D4 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hare, Eli W. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 1993, 22 hours before - Departed: HHR - Airport: HHR, Hawthorne Muni Airport, runway 25, 4,956 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 13,760 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 13,550 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19930920035249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930920035249A), Sep 20, 1993: Child S2BPITTS, Hawthorne, CA, Substantial damage. Student lost directional control landing. CFI tried to correct but aircraft ground looped. ## Other investigations on N88EW (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 WPR14LA329](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA329), Aug 5, 2014: Christen Industries Pitts S 2B (N88EW), Oceanside, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning. 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.