# NTSB ERA19LA199: Taylorcraft BC12, N43766, Readington, NJ, June 17, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 17, 2019, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Readington, NJ - Coordinates: 40.582778, -74.736663 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5828&lon=-74.7367&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99676 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99676/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA199 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to land on the mowed turf runway, which resulted in the airplane landing in tall grass and subsequently nosing over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/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: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed two landings on a turf runway and returned for a third approach. The pilot aligned the airplane parallel to the intended runway, about 80 feet to the left of the mowed runway surface. The airplane touched down in dense grass about 3-4 feet tall and travelled about 80 feet before it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot insisted that the brakes had "locked;" however, examination of the airplane revealed that with the brakes fully applied there was little to no braking action and that the airplane rolled with little to no resistance. The accident is consistent with the airplane nosing over due to the landing in tall grass. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2019, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12, N43766, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Solberg-Hunterdon Airport N51, Readington, New Jersey. The pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed N51 and performed some "air work" before returning to the airport for practice landings on runway 13 in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. Runway 13 was a mowed, turf runway, which was 3,444 feet long and 200 feet wide. The pilot performed two landings to runway 13 and completed a traffic pattern to perform a third landing. During the third approach, instead of aligning with the runway, the airplane touched down about 80 feet left of the mowed surface in dense grass that was between 3-4 feet tall. The ground track revealed the airplane travelled about 80 feet before it nosed over, came to rest inverted, and substantially damaged the rudder. In a telephone interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot stated that the brakes "locked," which caused the nose-over event. He stated that he was not aware of the height and thickness of the grass, as he believed he had landed on the runway. The pilot added that the landing surface was not a factor and insisted that the airplane's brakes had locked.Not necessary to support analysis and PC, and data contained within the data blocks. FAA inspectors examined the airplane at the accident site and later tested the brakes on the airplane after its recovery. With the brakes applied, the left-side braking action was "weak," and the right side had no braking action. When asked if it was possible to lock the brakes, the airworthiness inspector said, "Not at all." He added that with the brakes fully applied in the cockpit and when pushed by hand at the tail, the airplane rolled on both main landing gear tires with little to no resistance. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43766](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43766-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 7425, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft BC12 (D) - Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC12-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-d) (registry code 8850316) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7425 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1534.8 - Engines: Continental A65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2018 - Departed: N51, Readington, NJ - Destination: N51, Readington, NJ - Airport: N51, Solberg-Hunterdon, runway 13, 3,444 × 200 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,600 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,555 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: SMQ, 4 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 20190617007309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190617007309A), Jun 17, 2019: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Readington, NJ, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he was making his third landing to runway 13 and when he touched down the brakes locked up causing the aircraft to flip over on the main… ## Other investigations on N43766 (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 ERA09CA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA336), Jun 8, 2009: Taylorcraft BC12-D (N43766), Somerville, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of directional control during the landing roll due to the separation of the tailwheel centering spring for an undetermined reason. 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.