# NTSB CEN18LA360: Stearman A75N1(PT17), N64604, Kenosha, WI, August 31, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 30, 2018, 19:00 local (Aug 31, 2018, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Kenosha, WI - Coordinates: 42.597221, -87.929443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5972&lon=-87.9294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98209 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA360 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98209/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98209 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA360 ## Probable cause The failed retaining bolt and cracked backing plate, which resulted in a shift of the brake lining to contact the brake drum and a subsequent wheel lock when the brakes were applied. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot had performed three touch-and-go maneuvers without braking. On the fourth and last planned landing roll about 30 mph, the airplane experienced an excessive tailwheel shimmy. About 25 mph, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main wheel/brake assembly was locked; thus, the wheel/tire could not be rotated. Partial disassembly of the wheel/brake assembly revealed a failed retaining bolt for the brake backing plate and a crack in the backing plate. The bolt likely broke off and became lodged in the assembly; thus, it is likely the failed retaining bolt and cracked backing plate resulted in a shift of the brake lining to contact the brake drum and led to a subsequent wheel lock when the brakes were applied. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 2018, about 1900 central daylight time, a Stearman A75N1 (PT17) airplane, sustained substantial damage when nosed over during the landing roll at the Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW), Kenosha, Wisconsin. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed ENW about 1830. According to the pilot, he had performed three touch and go maneuvers without the use of any braking. On the fourth and last planned landing roll out about 30 mph, the airplane experienced an excessive tail wheel shimmy due to a left brake assembly issue. About 25 mph, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the left main wheel/brake assembly was locked, and the wheel/tire could not be rotated. Partial disassembly of the wheel/brake assembly revealed a failed retaining bolt for the brake backing plate, and a crack in the backing plate. The pilot reported the specified brake lining to drum clearance was .008/.010 inches. The most recent annual inspection was completed on September 1, 2017, about 20 hours prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64604](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64604), registered now, S/N 75-6811 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stearman A75N1(PT17) (3) - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-6811 - Year built: 1942 - Airframe hours: 5561 - Engines: Continental W670-6A 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2017 - Departed: ENW, Kenosha, WI - Destination: ENW, Kenosha, WI - Airport: ENW, Kenosha Regional Airport, runway 07R, 3,302 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; flight engineer, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 8, 2018; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: ENW, 5 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 20180830012589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180830012589A), Aug 30, 2018: Boeing A75N1(PT17), Kenosha, WI, Substantial damage. On August 30, 2018 at 1830 local time a clear calm afternoon, pilot was performing touch and goes at Kenosha regional airport. On the fourth and last planned… ## Other investigations on N64604 (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC97LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA181), Sep 14, 1997: Boeing Stearman PT-17 (N64604), Geneseo, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98209. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467078&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467079&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467080&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.