# NTSB MIA00LA137: Walden A. Cooper Pitts S1S, N27235, Daytona Beach, FL, April 11, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 2000, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Daytona Beach, FL - Coordinates: 29.170427, -81.13906 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1704&lon=-81.1391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49016 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49016/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA137 ## Probable cause Collapse of the tail wheel to the right during landing rollout when the forward attach bolt sheared for undetermined reasons. This resulted in the aircraft's rudder deflecting to the right, the pilot losing directional control, and the aircraft running off the runway and colliding with a hangar. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,tailwheel - sheared - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - landing gear,tailwheel - collapsed - flight control,rudder - hardover - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - hangar/airport building ## Analysis The pilot stated the landing on runway 5 was normal and during landing rollout, the rudder suddenly went full to the right and the aircraft veered to the right. He could not regain control and the aircraft went off the runway and collided with a hangar. Post crash examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector showed the forward tail wheel attach bolt had sheared and the tail wheel had collapsed to the right and deflected the rudder to the right. The remains of the sheared bolt could not be removed and was not retained for further examination. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 2000, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cooper Pitts S1S, N27235, registered to a private individual, went off the runway and collided with a hangar during landing at Spruce Creek Airport, Daytona Beach, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Fernandina Beach, Florida, the same day, about 1445. The pilot stated the landing on runway 4 was normal. During landing rollout, the rudder suddenly went full to the right and the aircraft immediately turned to the right and went off the runway. He was unable to regain directional control and the aircraft collided with a hangar. His postcrash examination of the aircraft showed the forward tail wheel attach bolt had broken and the tail wheel had collapsed to the right and jammed the rudder to the right. The NTSB was not notified of the accident until April 21, 2000. The aircraft was examined by an FAA inspector after the accident. The inspector could not remove the remains of the failed bolt from the tail wheel and it was not retained for further examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: N27235 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Walden A. Cooper PITTS S1S - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: P-796-WC - Airframe hours: 1600 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas E. Sutphin - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1999 - Departed: 55J, FERNANDINA BCH., FL - Airport: 44J, Spruce Creek, runway 5, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 784 total, 58 in this make and model, 784 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 6 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 20000411007579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000411007579A), Apr 11, 2000: Aviat PITTSS1S, Daytona Beach, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) After landing pilot reported uncommanded full right rudder causing loss of control and subsequent collision with aircraft hangar. No injury to PIC,… 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.