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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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January 24, 1983 · Cromwell/Pitts S-1S · N56T

Athol, ID

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 24, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Athol, ID
Aircraft
Cromwell/Pitts S-1S
Tail Number
N56T
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA83FA045

THE PLT TOOKOFF WITH AN ESTIMATED 7 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD. WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVER, HE ENTERED A VERTICAL, CLIMBING, POWER-ON MANEUVER. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT CLIMBED TO ZERO AIRSPEED AT ABOUT 2500 FT AGL. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT THEN SLID BACKWARD AND ENTERED AN INVERTED FLAT SPIN. POWER REMAINED ON FOR ABOUT HALF OF THE DESCENT. WHEN THE POWER WAS REDUCED, THE ACFT ENTERED AN UPRIGHT SPIN AND CONTINUED TO DESCEND IN THIS MODE UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. INTERVIEWS WITH OTHER PLTS, FAMILIAR WITH THE FLT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PITTS, REVEALED THAT AT A LOW STATE OF FUEL, THE CENTER-OF-GRAVITY IS IN THE AFT RANGE. THEY REPORTED A POWER REDUCTION IS NECESSARY TO RECOVER FROM AN INVERTED SPIN. THEY ALSO STATED THAT INTENTIONAL SPINS WERE NOT A NORMAL PART OF THIS PLT'S AEROBATIC ROUTINE. NO MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR PLT IMPAIRMENT WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

Full Narrative

THE PLT TOOKOFF WITH AN ESTIMATED 7 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD. WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATIC MANEUVER, HE ENTERED A VERTICAL, CLIMBING, POWER-ON MANEUVER. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT CLIMBED TO ZERO AIRSPEED AT ABOUT 2500 FT AGL. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT THEN SLID BACKWARD AND ENTERED AN INVERTED FLAT SPIN. POWER REMAINED ON FOR ABOUT HALF OF THE DESCENT. WHEN THE POWER WAS REDUCED, THE ACFT ENTERED AN UPRIGHT SPIN AND CONTINUED TO DESCEND IN THIS MODE UNTIL GROUND IMPACT. INTERVIEWS WITH OTHER PLTS, FAMILIAR WITH THE FLT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PITTS, REVEALED THAT AT A LOW STATE OF FUEL, THE CENTER-OF-GRAVITY IS IN THE AFT RANGE. THEY REPORTED A POWER REDUCTION IS NECESSARY TO RECOVER FROM AN INVERTED SPIN. THEY ALSO STATED THAT INTENTIONAL SPINS WERE NOT A NORMAL PART OF THIS PLT'S AEROBATIC ROUTINE. NO MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR PLT IMPAIRMENT WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:25 PST
Nearest AirportHenley Aerodrome (1nm NW)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCromwell/Pitts S-1S
Tail NumberN56T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-B4A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 32 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 4000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data