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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 26, 1995 · Pitts S-2B · N711BT

Naples, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 26, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Naples, FL
Aircraft
Pitts S-2B
Tail Number
N711BT
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA95LA129

The airplane veered to the left on landing rollout. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to a full stop. Examination of the airplane revealed the right hand spring on the tail wheel to be hanging free, the attachment clip was missing, and was not located. There was no evidence of distortion on the chain attached to the tail wheel spring.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the tail wheel landing gear system for undetermined reasons. This resulted in an on-ground loss of control on landing rollout, ground loop, and collapse of the right main landing gear.

Full Narrative

On April 26, 1995, about 1912 eastern daylight time, a Pitts S-2B, N711BT, registered to Everglades Aerobatic, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, ground looped on landing at Naples Municipal Airport and crashed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certified flight instructor/commercial pilot, and the rated student pilot (airline transport pilot) were not injured. The flight originated from Naples, Florida, about 50 minutes before the accident. the accident was initially reported to the NTSB as an incident, and was up-graded to an accident on May 10, 1995. The flight instructor stated he thought the rated student pilot allowed the airplane to roll too much to the right before exiting the runway. The student pilot applied left rudder, however, he thought the student pilot applied too much left rudder, and he applied right rudder. The airplane continued to the left 180 degrees. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to a full stop. Examination of the airplane by the Director of Maintenance for Sun Aircraft Services USA, Inc., revealed the right spring on the tail wheel to be hanging free, the attachment clip was missing, and was not located. The flight instructor stated while taxiing to his hangar on a previous flight on April 12, 1995, the tail wheel steering did not feel right. Subsequent examination of the tail wheel assembly revealed the right spring was loose and the attachment clip had vibrated off. The airplane was taken to Naples Air Center, Inc., for repair. The tail wheel spring and attachment clips were worn and required replacement. Mr. Alfred A. Bennett, Naples Air Center, Inc., stated in a letter dated May 22, 1995, that it would be virtually impossible for a new attachment clip to vibrate loose from its installation and fall off during normal operation because of the tension required to open the clip. Possibly during a ground loop the stress in the opposing direction and the severe side load encountered may be enough to open or break the clip. Examination of photographs submitted with the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report of the tail wheel assembly revealed no evidence of distortion on the chain attached to the tail wheel spring.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:12 EDT
Nearest AirportNaples Municipal Airport (0nm)
Runway4
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPitts S-2B
Tail NumberN711BT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-D4A5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 40 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 6 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:20
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data