Blue Sky Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Amarillo, Texas 79118
Saturday, May 29, 2010 18:54 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the initial climb following an engine teardown, inspection, and engine reinstallation, the airplane’s engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot initiated a 180-degree turn and performed a downwind landing on the runway from which he had just departed. Following the landing, and while taxiing, the pilot observed flames emanating from the engine cowling area. The pilot shut down the engine and exited the airplane. Moments later the airplane was engulfed in flames. An examination of the airplane’s engine revealed that the engine-driven fuel pump housing had fractured where the fuel line fitting had been inserted. The fitting, with its pipe thread, was the correct fitting; however, its preaccident torque value is unknown. Due to thermal damage to the pump housing the reason for the failure could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The fracture of the fuel pump housing for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/29/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1854
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Amarillo
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79118
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 350352N
Event Location Longitude 1015058W
Event Location Airport Blue Sky Airfield
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2TX0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3615
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27221
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 18 2010 1:17PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N260PK
NTSB Number CEN10LA295
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PITTS AEROBATICS
Aircraft Model S-2B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 5034
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 29 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name BRITAIN MARK
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City AMARILLO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79106-5530
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name BRITAIN MARK
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City AMARILLO
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 79106-5530
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 2TX0
Departure City Amarillo
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1552
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 2TX0
Destination City Amarillo
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 15 2010 6:08PM
User who most recently changed record lebt
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 4800
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --