Accident Details
On July 16, 2013, at 1940 eastern daylight time, a Christen Industries INC Pitts S2-B, registration N519ZB, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Dalton, Ohio. The commercial pilot and a passenger were on board and were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The flight departed Akron/Canton Regional Airport (CAK) in Akron, Ohio, at 1915 as a local flight with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Statement
According to a written statement from the pilot, after departing CAK, he flew to his designated "aerobatic box" to perform aerobatics. During an upright, normal spin to the left, the engine stopped producing power. At the time, the airplane was about 3,300 feet above the ground. The pilot prepared for a forced landing to a short and narrow private grass runway. During the emergency descent, he attempted to restart the engine several times without success. The pilot landed approximately halfway down the runway but was unable to stop the airplane. It overran the runway and struck a utility pole, resulting in substantial damage to the left, upper, and lower wings.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector examined the airplane and engine and found no preaccident anomalies that would have caused the engine to stop producing power. A subsequent test run of the engine on the airframe showed that the engine started immediately and operated through its full power range without interruptions.