GAA18CA284

NTSB accident investigation · Yakovlev YAK 52 · Bayou La Batre, AL · May 5, 2018

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 5, 2018, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
Place
Bayou La Batre, AL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N81FSYakovlev YAK 52
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 24, 2018
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20180505004689A
Case key
97275

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot’s improper planning for landing on a wet grass airstrip, which resulted in a runway overrun.

Findings · 6

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotYakovlev YAK 52: 3 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Planning/preparationPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotYakovlev YAK 52: 1 caseAll aircraft: 113 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parametersAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedYakovlev YAK 52: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,269 casesProbable cause
Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationYakovlev YAK 52: 1 caseAll aircraft: 141 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: fence/fence postEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomeYakovlev YAK 52: 1 caseAll aircraft: 313 cases
Performance/control parameters: surface speed/brakingAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedYakovlev YAK 52: 1 caseAll aircraft: 238 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

According to the pilot in the experimental, exhibition airplane, he departed from a grass airstrip about 1 hour after a rain shower. After a 15-minute pleasure flight, he landed on the same wet grass airstrip. He reported that the airplane touched down about 700 ft past the 2,000-ft-long runway's threshold at 75 knots with full flaps and the trim set nose up. He applied the brakes multiple times, but the airplane overran the departure end of the runway. The airplane's groundspeed was about 13 knots when the right wing struck a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing aileron. In the recommendation section of the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot asserted that the accident could have been prevented if he had taken into consideration "the reduced traction offered by the wet grass." The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the experimental exhibition airplane, he departed a grass airstrip about an hour after a rain shower. After a 15-minute pleasure flight, he landed on the same wet grass airstrip. He reported that the airplane touched down about 700ft past the runway threshold of the 2,000ft runway at 75 knots, with full flaps and the trim was set nose up. He applied the brakes multiple times, but the airplane overran the departure end of the runway. The airplane's ground speed was about 13 knots when the right wing struck a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing aileron. Per the National Transportation Safety Board, Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, in the Recommendation section, the pilot asserted that the accident could have been prevented if he had taken into consideration, "the reduced traction offered by the wet grass." The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N81FS
Reported as
Yakovlev YAK 52 (NO SERIES)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
9311704
Built
1993
Engine
Vedeneyev M14P, 360 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Red Star Aero Services LLC.
Registered owner
Red Star Aero Services LLC.
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
5R7 · Bayou La Batre, AL
Destination
5R7 · Bayou La Batre, AL
Airport
5R7 · Roy E Ray, runway 36, 2,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf
Equipment
None

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
37
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 15, 2016
Seat
Front
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
252.6 total · 40 in this make and model · 210 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
8,500 ft broken
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
KBFM, 13 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.4 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.