NTSB Prelim: Pitts S1E | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-02.03.25

Airborne-NextGen-02.04.25

Airborne-Unlimited-02.05.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-02.06.25

Airborne-Unlimited-02.07.25

Sat, Nov 30, 2024

NTSB Prelim: Pitts S1E

He Was Unable To Center The Rudder Due To The Unresponsive Left Rudder Pedal

Location: Seguin, TX Accident Number: CEN25LA043
Date & Time: November 17, 2024, 14:15 Local Registration: N52B
Aircraft: Pitts S1E Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On November 17, 2024, about 1415 central standard time, a Pitts Special S-1E airplane, N52B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Seguin, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, he was practicing the International Aerobatic Club Advanced Free Sequence maneuver nine, which consists of a left 1 and ½ rotation snap roll to inverted flight followed by a reverse direction ½ loop downward, when he felt the left rudder lose tension, go to the firewall, and lost rudder control. The airplane ceased the snap roll and entered an inverted spiraling descent. He regained control using aileron and elevator and stabilized the airplane in upright flight. He then found that while he had right rudder control, he was unable to center the rudder due to the unresponsive left rudder pedal.

The pilot returned to Zuehl Airport (1TE4) but was unable to control the airplane’s lateral alignment with the runway until he found the broken left rudder cable and was able to manipulate the rudder flight control surface by grabbing the cable and centering the rudder.

During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right and the pilot attempted to correct with left rudder but was unable to overcome the friction of the tailwheel. The airplane ground looped, nosed over, and came to rest inverted which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, lower left wing, and upper wings.

Postaccident examination by the pilot revealed that the left rudder cable had separated at the attachment linkage to the left rudder pedal. Additionally, according to the pilot the right rudder cable attachment loop showed evidence of frayed wires with possible corrosion of the thimble.

The airplane was retained for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (02.06.25): Decision Altitude (DA)

Decision Altitude (DA) A specified altitude (mean sea level (MSL)) on an instrument approach procedure (ILS, GLS, vertically guided RNAV) at which the pilot must decide whether to >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (02.06.25)

Aero Linx: Air Safety Group The Air Safety Group is a voluntary group founded in England in 1964. It is composed of aviation professionals who hold the view that there have been, a>[...]

Airborne-NextGen 02.04.25: Dream Chaser, Drone Pilot Busted, Asteroid Samples

Also: New Acting FAA Boss, Matternet M2 Drone Ops, Serbian Midnights, NOTAM Foulup Sierra Space announced that its Dream Chaser spaceplane successfully completed the Joint Test 10B>[...]

Airborne 02.05.25: No Outs 4 ATC, Sporty's Acquires, 'Black' Boxes

Also: NOTAM System Restored, Textron Mil Trainers, Axiom Space, Police Rescues Cirrus Pax The Trump administration’s attempt at downsizing the federal workforce has run into >[...]

Airborne 02.03.25: Drone Pilot Bust, New Acting FAA Boss, PNE Lear Accident

Also: 2 Blimps For OSH, USCG-Airbus Deal, Japan Buys T-6s, Starliner Boss Replaced A 56-year-old California man recently pled guilty after he flew his drone into a Super Scooper fi>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC