# NTSB ERA21LA100: Murphy Rebel, N616PM, O'Brien, FL, January 4, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 4, 2021, 11:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: O'Brien, FL - Coordinates: 30.089803, -83.086307 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0898&lon=-83.0863&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102519/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102519 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA100 ## Probable cause A partially engaged right wheel brake, which restricted the airplane’s acceleration and the pilot’s ability to pitch to takeoff attitude, and resulted in an aborted takeoff and subsequent runway excursion. ## 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: [Michel Paul John MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=05616E0), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Michel Paul John MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05616E0), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Michel Paul John MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05616E0), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Michel Paul John MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05616E0), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Michel Paul John MURPHY REBEL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05616E0), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that during takeoff, when the airplane was about 1,000 ft down the 2,750-ft-long grass runway, he was unable to raise the airplane’s nosewheel. He increased the flap setting, but the airplane could not leave the ground. Because the airplane was beyond the pilot’s normal takeoff abort point, he reduced the throttle fully and applied the brakes. The airplane then departed the runway end and impacted a fence and two roadside ditches before coming to rest. The airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. After coming to rest, a fire ignited in the dry grass under the airplane’s right main tire and was extinguished by the pilot and passenger. Following the accident, the pilot towed the airplane back to his hangar, and noticed during that process that the right wheel brake was sticking and that the right wheel had left a groove through the grass. A subsequent examination of the right wheel and brake revealed that the right wheel rotated freely but with some resistance noted from the brake. The pilot reported that there were no other mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Given this information, it is likely that the airplane’s right brake was partially engaged during the takeoff, which restricted the airplane’s ability to accelerate to an adequate flying speed and the pilot’s ability to pitch to a normal takeoff attitude. This condition resulted pilot’s eventual decision to abort the takeoff, and the subsequent runway overrun. Had the pilot noted this lack of acceleration earlier during the takeoff, it is possible that the takeoff could have been aborted with sufficient runway remaining to avoid the runway overrun. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N616PM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N616PM), registered now, S/N 374, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Murphy Rebel - Registry model: [Michel Paul John MURPHY REBEL](https://openairdocs.org/model/michel-paul-john-murphy-rebel) (registry code 05616E0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru EJ22](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-ej22) (registry code 59053, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 2465 - Engines: Lycoming O320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2020 - Destination: LCQ, Lake City, FL - Airport: 9FLO, Suwannee Belle Airport, runway 020, 2,750 × 85 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 5, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,265 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,104 as pilot in command, 20.1 in the last 90 days, 4.7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: PIE, 5 nm away - METAR: KPIE 041653Z 02006KT 10SM CLR 17/07 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP196 T01670072 ## 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 20210104000529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210104000529A), Jan 4, 2021: Michel Paul John MURPHY REBEL, O'Brien, FL, Substantial damage. Experimental amateur built aircraft N616PM- on takeoff roll, pilot could not get aircraft off ground; pilot reported right brake was dragging, take off was… ## Other investigations on N616PM (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 ERA09LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA109), Dec 27, 2008: Michel Paul John Murphy Rebel (N616PM), Live Oak, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102519. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11969138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N616PM_6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11970030&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 595 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11969245&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Brake examination (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11970394&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Brake%20Exam-Rel.pdf - Investigtive photographs (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 344 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11970138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20N616PM-Rel.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.