- Date
- October 26, 1996, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wakefield, VA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N83NCessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19961026045759A
- Case key
- 28157
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
uncommanded operation of the parking brake, due to a missing tension spring, which resulted in locked brakes and subsequent nose over of the airplane during landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot made an approach to the airport with a passenger aboard. The wind was calm, and the pilot proceeded with a standard traffic pattern. When the airplane touched down, main tire(s) locked, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that he was in a perfect configuration for a three point landing, and there was no warning or indication of a problem until the accident occurred. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left master cylinder tension spring, which was designed to prevent the parking brake lock from engaging, was missing.
Factual narrative
On October 26, 1996, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N83N, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing at the Wakefield Municipal Airport (AKQ), Wakefield, Virginia. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In a written statement, the pilot said he was on approach to runway 2 at AKQ. He further stated:
"...The winds were basically calm, as could be observed from the flags next to the airport office. I then proceeded with a standard traffic pattern...I was in a perfect configuration for a 3 point landing, but as I touched down, the airplane front tires violently and abruptly locked up. There was no warning or indication of a problem, but the airplane within seconds flipped forward on its back."
The airplane was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. The examination revealed that left master cylinder tension spring which is designed to prevent the parking brake lock from engaging, was missing.
The Cessna 140 Airplane Operations Manuel stated:
"The parking brake control is operated in conjunction with the toe brake...In setting the parking brake, first press the toe brake to the desired brake pressure then pull the control out to engage the locking lever and release the toe brake pressure...."
The pilot did recall depressing the toe brakes during the cross country flight to AKQ.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N83N
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 11607
- Airframe hours
- 3,500
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Raymond L. Bossolla
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 19, 1996 · 14 hours before
- Departed
- AKQ · Burgaw, NC
- Destination
- AKQ
- Airport
- AKQ · Wakfield Municipal, runway 2, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 298 total · 85 in this make and model · 205 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.