The NTSB has published
a probable cause in the loss of a Pitts S1-T (file photo below)
that impacted the ground in Southern California after its pilot
could not affect a spin recovery, and bailed out... successfully,
albeit with only a five second canopy ride.
Whew....
NTSB Report
On June 11, 2005, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, an Aviat
Pitts S-1T experimental acrobatic airplane, N647J, impacted terrain
near Fillmore, California, after the pilot was unable to recover
from an intentional inverted flat spin. The owner was operating the
airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airline
transport pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries;
however, the airplane was destroyed. The local personal flight
departed Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California, about
1635, and flew to the Santa Paula acrobatic practice area. Visual
meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been
filed. The approximate coordinates of the primary wreckage were 34
degrees 23 minutes north latitude and 118 degrees 59 minutes west
longitude.
The pilot submitted a written report in which he reported
departing CMA and flying to the Santa Paula acrobatic practice
area. After 20 minutes of practicing the International Aerobatics
Club sportsman sequence, he climbed to 5,000 feet mean sea level
(msl) to practice inverted flat spin entry and recovery. He raised
the nose to a vertical position and then pulled the nose to about
negative 20 degrees past vertical. He applied full left rudder and
full forward elevator control. The airplane pitched above and below
the horizon twice and then entered into a left turning inverted
flat spin. After about one turn he reduced power to idle, and the
nose lowered into a left turning inverted spin. The rotation of the
spin rapidly increased and he applied full right rudder to stop the
rotation. The airplane did approximately three fast rotations and
did not respond to the pilot's control inputs. He then tried to
recover by initiating the Gene Beggs method of recovery (power off,
opposite rudder, let go of control stick). He had already done the
first two steps of the recovery and so he only had to release the
control stick. However, the airplane did not respond and the
rotation appeared to increase.
The pilot initiated a
bailout about 1,000 feet above ground level (agl). His parachute
canopy opened successfully and he landed after approximately 5
seconds. The airplane impacted the Santa Clara riverbed about 2
miles west of Fillmore, and about 50 feet from where the pilot
landed. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no
mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
The Flight Combat International Emergency Maneuver Training
Program indicates that the following inverted spin recovery
procedure is designed to achieve optimum anti-spin effect and is
consistent with recommendations based on years of detailed spin
research: power - idle, ailerons - neutral (if in doubt let go of
aileron control), rudder - full opposite yaw direction, and
elevator - aft through neutral. Hold these inputs until yaw
rotation stops, then neutralize rudder, apply aft elevator to climb
straight ahead, and add climb power.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the
probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
the pilot's failure to affect timely recovery from an
intentional inverted flat spin.