# NTSB WPR14LA065: Aviat S 2C, N44HV, Chandler, AZ, December 9, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 9, 2013, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ - Coordinates: 33.319057, -111.870407 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3191&lon=-111.8704&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88533 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88533/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88533 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA065 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing, which resulted in impact with a runway identifier sign, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action to take the controls and initiate a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat S-2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=8130001), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat S-2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8130001), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat S-2C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8130001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Aviat S-2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=8130001), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat S-2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8130001), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aviat S-2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8130001), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he and the private pilot were practicing aerobatic maneuvers and had returned to the airport to practice touch-and-go landings. On the third touch-and-go landing, the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway just before touching down. The flight instructor subsequently took the controls and executed a go-around. During the go-around, the flight instructor felt a slight buffet and, while returning to the airport, he noticed some damage to the lower right wingtip. During postaccident airplane examinations, a 12-inch-long section of the outboard aft spar was found separated from the wing. The outboard end of the aileron to the outboard hinge was bent and distorted rearward from its original position. Examination of the runway revealed damage to a runway identifier sign. It is likely that the airplane impacted the runway identifier sign when the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway during the third touch-and-go landing. ## Factual narrative On December 9, 2013 about 1500 mountain standard time, an Aviat Aircraft Pitts S2-C airplane, N44HV, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing at Chandler Municipal Airport, Chandler, Arizona. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was owned by Arizona Pitts Leasing and operated by Chandler Air Service Inc., Chandler, Arizona, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that he and the private pilot were practicing aerobatic maneuvers and had returned back to the airport to practice touch-and-go landings. On the third touch-and-go landing the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway just prior to touching down. The flight instructor took over the controls and executed a go-around. During the go-around the flight instructor felt a slight buffet and on the flight back to the airport, noticed some damage to the lower right wingtip. After landing, the flight instructor realized that the airplane's right wing struck a runway identifier sign on the previous touch-and-go landing. Examination of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and revealed about a 12-inch-long section of the outboard aft spar separated from the wing. The outboard end of the aileron to the outboard hinge was bent and distorted rearward from its original position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44HV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44HV), registered now, S/N 6056, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC S 2C (C) - Registry model: [Aviat S-2C](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-s-2c) (registry code 8130001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6056 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 878 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Chandler Air Services, Inc. - Registered owner: Arizona Pitts Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2013, 18 hours before - Departed: KCHD, Chandler, AZ - Destination: KCHD, Chandler, AZ - Airport: KCHD, Chandler Municipal, runway 4R, 4,870 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 8,063 total, 305 in this make and model, 7,772 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 23, 2013; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,300 total, 10 in this make and model, 1,475 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: CHD ## 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 20131209025819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131209025819A), Dec 9, 2013: Aviat Aircraft Inc S-2C, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. A pitts S2-C airplane was damaged following a loss of control during an instructional flight. Substanial damage was confirmed by airworthiness inspector. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88533. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 676 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408429&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-Wing Damage (item 2, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408430&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Wing%20Damage-Master.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.