ANC12LA113

NTSB accident investigation · Aviat A-1 · Fairbanks, AK · September 28, 2012

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 28, 2012, 10:16 local (18:16 UTC)
Place
Fairbanks, AK
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N36LEAviat A-1
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 27, 2013
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20120928023309A
Case key
85165

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s excessive application of brakes during landing, which resulted in a noseover.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotAviat A-1: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause
Landing gear system: landing gear brakes systemAircraft › Aircraft systems · Unnecessary use/operationAviat A-1: 1 caseAll aircraft: 92 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that he had completed several touch-and-go landings and was returning for a final, full stop landing. The touchdown was normal, but during the landing roll, the tail began to rise. The pilot applied full back pressure on the control stick in an attempt to lower the tail, but the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder, lift struts, and wings. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A witness who responded to the accident site reported that both main wheels turned freely and observed skid marks on the gravel surfaced runway. A postaccident examination revealed brake shoe material had adhered to both brake discs. Thus, given the lack of mechanical anomalies with the airplane, it is likely that the pilot applied excessive braking during the landing roll.

Factual narrative

On September 28, 2012, about 1016 Alaska daylight time, an Aviat Inc. Husky A-1 airplane, N36LE, sustained substantial damage while landing at Chena Marina Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. During an on-scene interview with the National Transportation Safety Board(NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 28, the pilot stated that the accident flight originated at Chena Marina Airport, for a local flight to practice touch-and-go landings. He had completed several touch-and-go landings, and was returning for a full stop. The touchdown was normal, but during the landing roll the tail began to rise, he applied full back pressure on the control stick in an attempt to lower the tail, but the airplane nosed-over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder, lift struts, and wings. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. During a conversation with the NTSB IIC, an aircraft mechanic who responded to the accident site, said he found both main wheels turned freely. He also observed skid marks from the main wheels on the gravel surfaced runway. A postaccident examination revealed material from the brake shoes had adhered to both main brake discs. The closest weather reporting facility is Fairbanks International Airport, approximately 2 mile east of the accident site. At 0953, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at Fairbanks, Alaska, reported: wind clam; visibility, 10 statute miles; scattered clouds at 5000 feet; broken clouds at 8500 feet; temperature, 37 degrees F; dew point 34 degrees F; altimeter, 29.22 inHG.

Aircraft

Registration
N36LE
Reported as
Aviat A-1
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1198
Airframe hours
1,222
Engine
Lycoming O-360 Series, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 13, 2012
Departed
AK28 · Fairbanks, AK
Destination
AK28 · Fairbanks, AK
Airport
AK28 · Chena Marina Airport, runway 36, 4,000 × 60 ft, gravel

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
47
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Front
Flight hours
515 total · 1 in this make and model · 429 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
8,500 ft broken
Temperature
37 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
29.20 inHg
Observed at
PAFA, 2 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.5 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N36LE · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.