# NTSB SEA07LA053: Ross Hummer Pitts Special, N41HR, Stockton, CA, January 24, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 24, 2007, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Stockton, CA - Coordinates: 37.894165, -121.238334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8942&lon=-121.2383&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65190 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65190/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA053 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent ground loop/swerve, resulting in a nose over during an aborted takeoff. A contributing factor was the uneven runway surface, which restricted the pilot's ability to maintain directional control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted - aborted takeoff - initiated, pilot in command - directional control - restricted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - uneven (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, he "thought there was a slight loss of power." He decided to abort the takeoff and reduced the power. At a speed of about 30 mph, the airplane "suddenly turned sharply as if one of the wheels went into a hole or rut." The pilot applied opposite rudder and brake, but could not stop the turn. The airplane nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position. The pilot stated that the accident was due to "a hole or rut in the pavement or debris such as a piece of aircraft tire." Examination of the runway revealed the presence of two grooved depressions running the length of the runway in the asphalt on either side of the centerline. The grooves had a V shape and were about 4 inches wide and 1 inch deep. The width of the grooves corresponded to the width of the tires installed on the main landing gear of the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative On January 24, 2007, about 1300 Pacific standard time, a Ross Hummer Pitts Special, N41HR, nosed over following a loss of control during an aborted takeoff on runway 29L at Stockton Metropolitan Airport, Stockton, California. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating when the accident occurred. During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge on January 25, 2007, the pilot reported that as he added power on the takeoff roll, the engine rpm increased to 1,800 rpm and then stopped increasing. He decided to abort the takeoff and reduced the power. By this time, the tail wheel was off the ground, and he was using the rudder to steer the airplane. The airplane began to turn to the right, so he applied left brake to stop the turn, and the airplane "tipped upside down." In a written statement, the pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, he "thought there was a slight loss of power." He decided to abort the takeoff and reduced the power. At a speed of about 30 mph, the airplane "suddenly turned sharply as if one of the wheels went into a hole or rut." The pilot applied opposite rudder and brake, but could not stop the turn. The airplane nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position. The pilot stated that the accident was due to "a hole or rut in the pavement or debris such as a piece of aircraft tire." An FAA inspector responded to the accident site. The inspector reported that runway 29L had two grooved depressions running the length of the runway in the asphalt on either side of the centerline. The grooves had a V shape and were about 4 inches wide and 1 inch deep. The width of the grooves corresponded to the width of the tires installed on the main landing gear of the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41HR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41HR-2007-12-06), registration cancelled 2007-12-06, S/N 209, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ross Hummer Pitts Special - Registry model: [Ross Herbert E HUMMER PITTS SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/ross-herbert-e-hummer-pitts-special) (registry code 05614SM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 209 - Airframe hours: 44 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2006 - Departed: SCK, Stockton, CA - Destination: SCK - Airport: SCK, Stockton Metropolitan, runway 29L, 4,454 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 87; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 18,000 total, 4,500 in this make and model, 17,200 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: SCK ## 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 20070124000419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070124000419A), Jan 24, 2007: Amtr PITTSSPECIAL, Stockton, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) In an interview with the pilot he stated on take off the engine could only develop 1800 rmp. The pilot decided to abort take off. With the tail wheel off… 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.