# NTSB CEN17LA280: Stinson 108, N8954K, Lee's Summit, MO, July 21, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 2017, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Lee's Summit, MO - Coordinates: 38.960556, -94.374725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9606&lon=-94.3747&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 9, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95641 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95641/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95641 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA280 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing due to the failure of the right brake seal. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=9230404), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Stinson 108-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=9230404), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Stinson 108-1, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9230404), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Stinson 108-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=9230404), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Stinson 108-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=9230404), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a cross-country flight, the airline transport pilot chose an en route stop to refuel. During the landing roll, the airplane started to drift left, so the pilot applied the right brake and rudder to correct the turn; however, the brake "went to the floor." The pilot was unable to correct the turn, and the airplane continued off the edge of the runway. An examination of the braking system confirmed that the right brake was not functional, likely due to a failed seal. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2017, about 1100 central daylight time, a Stinson 108 airplane, N8954K, departed the runway surface while landing at the Lee's Summit Municipal Airport (KLXT), Lee's Summit, Missouri. The pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged during the landing. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The local flight departed Newton, Kansas, about 0900. The pilot reported that he planned to stop at KLXT to refuel and elected to land on runway 29. After touchdown, the airplane started to drift left, so he applied the right brake and rudder; however, the brake "went to the floor." The pilot was unable to correct the turn and the airplane continued off the edge of the runway. The airplane came to rest in an up-right position. An examination of the airplane by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector noted that the propeller was bent, the airplane's right landing gear had collapsed, and there was substantial damage to the wing spar and fuselage. The examination also confirmed that the right brake was not functional. The exam noted that the brake system malfunction was likely due to a failure of a seal ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8954K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8954K), registered now, S/N 108-1954, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STINSON 108 - Registry model: [Stinson 108-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-1) (registry code 9230404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4150 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (registry code 27024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-1954 - Year built: 1947 - Engines: FRANKLIN 6A4-165-B3 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 2017 - Departed: KEWK, Newton, KS - Destination: KLXT, Lee's Summit, MO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KLXT, Lee's Summit, runway 29, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 9,374 total, 68.5 in this make and model, 7,969 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 212° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg ## 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 20170721012569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170721012569A), Jul 21, 2017: Stinson 108-1, Lee'S Summit, MO, Substantial damage. After a normal landing at klxt, the pilot applied brakes. The left brake pedal responded as expected but the right pedal went all the way to the floor. Left… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95641. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459955&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Exam Email (item 2, .PDF, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Exam%20Email-Master.PDF 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.