# NTSB WPR22LA206: Shea Pitts Special S-1C, N52JH, Reno, NV, June 6, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 6, 2022, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Reno, NV
- Coordinates: 39.668177, -119.87644 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6682&lon=-119.8764&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105223
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105223/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105223
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA206

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure; cases with it: [Shea PITTS SPECIAL S-1C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=7221106), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Shea PITTS SPECIAL S-1C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7221106), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Shea PITTS SPECIAL S-1C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7221106), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Shea PITTS SPECIAL S-1C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7221106), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Shea PITTS SPECIAL S-1C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7221106), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Shea PITTS SPECIAL S-1C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7221106), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tail wheel equipped airplane reported that, while conducting a full stop landing, the airplane touched down normally. He felt a jolt then the airplane started to veer towards the right side of the runway and nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The left main wheel separated from the landing gear strut near the wheel attachment during the landing. The landing gear strut was bent inward. Photographs of the landing gear strut fracture surfaces were sent to the NTSB Material Laboratory for further review. The specialist reported that the fracture appeared to be due to overstress. No fatigue crack origin area was identified. The pilot reported that there were no other mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52JH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52JH), registered now, S/N 1, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SHEA PITTS SPECIAL S-1C
- Registry model: [Shea PITTS SPECIAL S-1C](https://openairdocs.org/model/shea-pitts-special-s-1c) (registry code 7221106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 1130
- Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 9, 2022, 10 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: RTS, Reno/Stead, runway 8, 7,608 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 9, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 780 total, 130 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 165 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KRNO, 11 nm away
- METAR: KRNO 061855Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 23/M02 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP131 T02281017 $

## 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 20220606009719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220606009719A), Jun 6, 2022: Shea PITTS SPECIAL S-1C, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. On 06/06/2022 at approximately 11:30 am. Experimental amateur-built pitts special S1C [privacy data omitted] departed runway 08 to conduct pylon racing…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 15, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105223. 11.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 9.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14682823&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Email-damage assessment (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14682922&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20Budinski%20RE_%20105223_WPR22LA206-Damage%20assessment._Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array-courtesy of the FAA (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14682743&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA-Rel.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.

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