# NTSB ATL05CA059: Ecker Starduster 1, N74EK, Millington, TN, March 6, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 6, 2005, 17:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Millington, TN - Coordinates: 35.203334, -90.238609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2033&lon=-90.2386&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Memphis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61243 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61243/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA059 ## Probable cause The malfunction of the left main landing gear wheel brake during landing roll on a grassy area, resulting in a nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground - Nose over, landing - roll - landing gear,normal brake system - malfunction (cause) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the landing rollout on the grassy area on the left side adjacent to runway 17, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot said full right rudder was applied to stop the left turn, but as the airplane decelerated the right rudder input was ineffective. The pilot decided to apply right brake to stop the left turn, however when right brake was applied the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no flight control or mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed the upper left wingtip, and vertical stabilizer were buckled. Examination of the left wheel pant revealed clumps of wet grass were present between the pant and wheel. During further examination of the left wheel it was revealed that the left brake caliper was hanging on the rotor and restricting movement. The history of the brake system and maintenance records were not available for review. A review of the General Dewitt Spain Airport map revealed that there is no published grass landing strip for the airport. During a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that the grass-landing surface he landed on was adjacent to the runway, and although it was being used as a landing strip it was not a designated landing area. ## Factual narrative On March 6, 2005, at 1720 central standard time, an experimental Ecker Starduster 1, N74EK, register to and operated by a private pilot, nosed over during landing roll at General Dewitt Spain Airport, Millington, Tennessee. The personal flight was conducted under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was uninjured. The flight departed from West Memphis Municipal Airport, Arkansas on March 6, 2005 at 1700. According to the pilot, during landing rollout on the grassy area on the left side adjacent to runway 17, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot said full right rudder was applied to stop the left turn, but as the airplane decelerated the right rudder input was ineffective. The pilot decided to applied right brake to stop the left turn, however when right brake was applied the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no flight control or mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed the upper left wingtip, and vertical stabilizer was buckled. Examination of the left wheel pant revealed clumps of wet grass were present between the pant and wheel. During further examination of the left wheel it was revealed that the left brake caliper was hanging on the rotor and restricting movement. The history of the brake system and maintenance records were not available for review. A review of the General Dewitt Spain Airport map revealed that there is no published grass landing strip for the airport. During a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated the grass-landing surface he landed on was adjacent to the runway, and although it was being used as a landing strip it was not a designated landing area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74EK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N74EK), registered now, S/N 174, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ecker Starduster 1 - Registry model: [Ecker D/Hackett W STARDUSTER I](https://openairdocs.org/model/ecker-d-hackett-w-starduster-i) (registry code 05605WX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 174 - Airframe hours: 127 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steve Price - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 8, 2004, 127 hours before - Departed: AWM, West Memphis, AK - Destination: M01, Millington, TN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: M01, General Dewitt Spain Airport, runway 17, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: single; flight hours: 6,000 total, 44 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: NQA, 50 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050306003419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050306003419A), Mar 6, 2005: Amtr STARDUSTER1, Memphis, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that he landed his aircraft (N74EK) on the grass parallel to the runway at Dewitt Spain airport (M01), Memphis TN. Upon landing, the… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.