# NTSB ERA12CA339: Bellanca 8GCBC, N86917, Gulf Shores, AL, May 16, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 16, 2012, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Gulf Shores, AL - Coordinates: 30.69, -87.858329 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6900&lon=-87.8583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83670 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA339 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83670/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83670 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA339 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent application of the wheel brakes immediately after landing, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=1220803), [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-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he landed the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a private grass strip and the airplane bounced. When the airplane settled back onto the grass, the pilot inadvertently applied the wheel brakes. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he landed the tailwheel equipped airplane on a private grass strip and the airplane bounced. When the airplane settled back onto the grass, the pilot inadvertently applied the wheel brakes. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86917](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86917-2020-06-05), registration cancelled 2020-06-05, S/N 27-74 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (registry code 1220803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-74 - Airframe hours: 1613 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Operator: Costal Airsign LLC - Registered owner: Costal Airsign LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2012 - Departed: JKA, Gulf Shores, AL - Destination: JKA, Gulf Shores, AL - Airport: NONE, Private, runway 27, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: minor; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 24, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 298 total, 29 in this make and model, 237 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: JKA ## 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 20120516008019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120516008019A), May 16, 2012: Bellanca 8GCBC, Elberta, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot had been training with banner tow operator for the previous 9 days. Pilot had just completed a banner drop and then returned to field to land. Pilot and… ## Other investigations on N86917 (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 LAX75DUG15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75DUG15), Oct 13, 1974: Bellanca 8GCBC (N86917), Adelanto, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83670. 10.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record: Conversation with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369558&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%3A%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Gulf Shores, Alabama Weather (item 4, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368576&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Gulf%20Shores,%20Alabama%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Front View of Airplane At Rest (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Front%20View%20of%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Side View of Airplane at Rest (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369385&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Side%20View%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.