Pitts S-1S N9AQ
3 January 2004 · Burleson, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 3 January 2004 at about 18:40 local time, a Pitts S-1S registered N9AQ was involved in an accident near Burleson, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Burleson, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Rafter J Airport (3TX9)
- Coordinates
- 32.5317, -97.3081
- Aircraft
- Pitts S-1S
- Registration
- N9AQ
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Burleson → Burleson
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW04LA056
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The separation of the right main gear wheel, during landing, due to the improper maintenance by unknown maintenance personnel on the right main landing gear assembly.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While landing at a private airstrip, the right main gear separated from the aircraft. Shortly after touchdown, the right gear strut dug into the grass for approximately 75 feet before the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. Inspection of the amateur-built aircraft revealed that there was an old crack on the flange where it was welded to the axle nut. A new fracture had propagated from the ends of this crack around the lower axle shaft bolt, causing the other 3 remaining bolts to fracture and separate. Examination also revealed that the axle shaft had been cut off next to the backing plate flange and an axle shaft similar to what is used on a Cessna spring gear was bolted to the flange with four quarter-inch bolts. The FAA Inspector found the separated wheel with a piece of the flange still attached to it by one of the bolts. The flange was able to swivel around the bolt, suggesting that the bolt (and the 3 other bolts) was improperly torqued.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Pitts S-1S accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Dec 2001 | Pitts S-1S | Sanford, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1996 | Pitts S-1S | Reno, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 1995 | Pitts S-1S | Livermore, California, United States | Carol A. Christian | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 1994 | Pitts S-1S | Stevensville, Maryland, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Aug 1992 | Pitts S-1S | Galion, Ohio, United States | Stuart T. Pressey | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Pitts S-1S | Henryetta, Oklahoma, United States | Arsenault, Donald S. | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2004 | Lockheed 1329-23E | Houston, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 2004 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Dalhart, Texas, United States | Kenneth Green | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 2004 | Bell 407 | Pyote, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 3 Aug 2004 | Piper PA-60-601P | Lakeway, Texas, United States | Curtis Treadwell | Fatal | 6 |
| 9 Sep 2004 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Rachel, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 Dec 2004 | Mooney M20F | Fabens, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |