# NTSB IAD99LA049: Kucki Pitts S-1S, N86RK, Mitchellville, MD, June 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 1999, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Mitchellville, MD - Coordinates: 38.919197, -76.789756 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9192&lon=-76.7898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 2, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46494 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD99LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46494/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA049 ## Probable cause was the loss of braking action on the left side due to a broken brake caliper. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,normal brake system - inoperative (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis After landing, the pilot applied the brakes and experienced no braking action on the left side. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, struck a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the left brake revealed the brake caliper was broken at the forward dowel pin hole. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 1999, at 0830 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Pitts S-1S was substantially damaged after a loss of control during landing at the Freeway Airport (W00), Mitchellville, Maryland. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot said he landed on runway 18 at Freeway. He said he applied the brakes and experienced no braking action on the left side. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, struck a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot, also a certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic, said he experienced problems with the left brake in the recent past, and had attempted to repair the problem on two separate occasions in the month prior to the accident. He said: "I'd had some trouble with my left brake. I changed the 'O' rings and cleaned the disks and pads. I then ground tested and flew the airplane. A flight or so later, I had the problem again, so I replaced the pads. On the third occurrence, I suffered the accident." The pilot said he contacted the brake manufacturer for information about the system, and to verify that the brake disks measured to the manufacturer's specifications. According to the pilot, "The brakes are needed to stop and to steer. It's a high priority thing, that's why I put so much effort into it." Examination of maintenance records revealed the pilot performed brake repairs on May 17, 1999, and again on June 4, 1999. The pilot reported that, other than the left brake, the airplane operated with no mechanical deficiencies. The pilot reported a total of 3,200 hours of flight experience on October 6, 1998. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspectors performed a cursory examination of the wreckage. In a telephone interview, an FAA Inspector stated that the left brake was not operational, and that the right brake did function. The airplane was inspected by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector on June 7, 1999. According to the Inspector, "The left brake caliper was broken at the forward dowel pin hole." The FAA Inspector conducted a telephone interview with the pilot. According to the Inspector's record of telephone conversation: "[The pilot] stated that, during conversations with other Pitts owners, he heard that this brake configuration was a known problem. He said that he was told that later models did not have the caliper installed on the bottom of the disk, as this one is. [The pilot] also stated that on more than one occasion he had the brake activate on bumpy runways. He was told it was due to the caliper location." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86RK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86RK-2001-12-10), registration cancelled 2001-12-10, S/N K-036, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kucki PITTS S-1S - Registry model: [Kucki Nick J PITTS S-1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/kucki-nick-j-pitts-s-1s) (registry code 72206BM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: K036 - Airframe hours: 752 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Malcolm B. Milam - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 1999, 6 hours before - Departed: W00 - Airport: W00, Freeway Airport, runway 18, 2,450 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 3,286 total, 85 in this make and model, 3,126 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ADW, 9 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 19990605047589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990605047589A), Jun 5, 1999: Aviat PITTSS1S, Mitchellville, MD, Substantial damage. (.4) After landing, the pilot applied the brakes and experienced no braking action on the left side. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, struck… 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.