Harold J Eagen PITTS SPECIAL S-1C N9HE
16 August 1991 · Monroe, Georgia, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 16 August 1991 at about 20:57 local time, a Harold J Eagen PITTS SPECIAL S-1C registered N9HE, operated by Brooks, James D., was involved in an accident near Monroe, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:57
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Monroe, Georgia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Walton County (A06)
- Coordinates
- 33.7908, -83.7096
- Aircraft
- Harold J Eagen PITTS SPECIAL S-1C
- Registration
- N9HE
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Brooks, James D.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Covington → Clemson
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL91LA162
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
CONTAMINATION AND WATER EXISTING IN THE FUEL SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE STOPPAGE AND THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT WITH A KNOWN AIRCRAFT DEFICIENCY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FLYING THE NEWLY PURCHASED HOMBEBUILT AIRPLANE WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY. THIS ENGINE ROUGHNESS COINCIDED WITH SWITCHING FUEL TANKS. HE LANDED AND HAD SOME FRIENDS CHECK THE AIRPLANE; IT WAS THEN ASSUMED THAT OLD FUEL STILL REMAINED IN THE UPPER FUEL TANK. AFTER A LOCAL 'TEST FLIGHT', HE DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE TRIP USING THE LOWER TANK ONLY. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS 'DETONATING'. HE WAS OBSERVED ON SHORT FINAL AT A NEARBY AIRPORT, THEN HE WAS OBSERVED EXECUTING A GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED INTO NEARBY TREES, CRASHED, AND BURNED. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED WATER AND CORROSION IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM. THE AIRPLANE, WHICH WAS ABOUT 10-YEARS-OLD, HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 46 HOURS. REPORTEDLY, IT WAS STORED FOR SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Oct 1991 | Bell 47D-1 | Rome, Georgia, United States | Silver Hawk Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jan 1991 | Cessna 310 | Brunswick, Georgia, United States | Fosmire, William L | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-24-260 | Cordele, Georgia, United States | Carter, Richard C. | Fatal | 3 |
| 14 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-34-220T | Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States | Kirk Rudy, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 May 1991 | McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Delta Air Lines | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 1991 | Cessna T37B | Chickamauga, Georgia, United States | Brady, David F. | Fatal | 2 |