# NTSB ERA09LA330: Yakovlev/Day YAK-11, N7YK, Culpeper, VA, June 8, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 2009, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Culpeper, VA - Coordinates: 38.525276, -77.859725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5253&lon=-77.8597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73987 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA330 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73987/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73987 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA330 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Yakovlev/Day YAK-11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=9830114), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Yakovlev/Day YAK-11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=9830114), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Yakovlev/Day YAK-11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9830114), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the landing roll in the experimental tailwheel airplane, the airplane drifted to the right slowly into a grassy area and struck a drainage ditch. The pilot stated that he applied left brake to correct for the drift, but was unsuccessful. After the accident, the airplane was placed on jacks to allow the left main wheel assembly to be rotated. The right brake line was capped off and the brake system was serviced. Once the preparation was complete, the left wheel was rotated by hand. When pressure was applied to the left brake pedal, the left wheel stopped rotating. Additional pressure was applied in an attempt to move the left wheel, with no success. The left brake functioned properly during the test and no other preimpact anomalies were noted. The winds were recorded as calm about the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 2009, about 1000 eastern daylight time, a Yakovlev/Day YAK-11 experimental airplane, N7YK, departed the right side of runway 4 during landing roll, and struck a concrete drainage ditch at the Culpeper Regional Airport (CJR), Culpeper, Virginia. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight was operated as a maintenance test flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from CJR about 0945. According to the pilot, the airplane had been in maintenance for about 1 year and he was conducting a maintenance test flight. He stated that the brakes had been changed as well as the airspeed indicator. The takeoff and test flight were normal, "until the airspeed indicator stopped working." He discontinued the test flight and returned to CJR for landing. The airplane landed on runway 4, a 5,000-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. During the landing roll, the airplane drifted slowly right into a grassy area and struck a drainage ditch. The pilot stated that he applied left brake to correct for the drift, but was successful. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found the right main gear separated and substantial damage to the right wing and fuel tank. The airplane was placed on jacks to allow the left main wheel assembly to be rotated. The right brake line was capped off and the brake system was serviced. Once the preparation was complete, the left wheel was rotated by hand. When pressure was applied to the left brake pedal, the left wheel stopped rotating. Additional pressure was applied in an attempt to move the wheel with no success. The winds were recorded as calm about the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7YK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7YK-2019-09-04), registration cancelled 2019-09-04, S/N 51-24D, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: YAKOVLEV/DAY YAK-11 - Registry model: [Yakovlev/Day YAK-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/yakovlev-day-yak-11) (registry code 9830114) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison V1710 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-v1710-series) (registry code 03001, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 51-24D - Airframe hours: 80 - Engines: Allison V1710 1425 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2009, 80 hours before - Departed: CJR, Culpeper, VA - Destination: CJR, Culpeper, VA - Airport: CJR, Culpeper Regional Airport, runway 04, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 27, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 14,700 total, 77 in this make and model, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: CJR ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73987. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies, FAA Inspector Statement. (item 2, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies,%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement.-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Photo 1 Ground path of airplane. (item 4, .PDF, 786 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Photo%201%20Ground%20path%20of%20airplane.-Master.PDF - FAA Photo 2, Wreckage Debris Path. (item 5, .PDF, 768 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Photo%202,%20Wreckage%20Debris%20Path.-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.