# NTSB LAX00LA048: Oehling Questair Venture, N3QV, Auburn, CA, December 4, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 3, 1999, 17:15 local (Dec 4, 1999, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Auburn, CA - Coordinates: 39.000015, -121.09053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0000&lon=-121.0905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47882/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA048 ## Probable cause The owner/builder's failure to properly bleed the brake system following replacement of the right brake line, which caused the right brake to not function and led to the pilot's inability to maintain directional control. ## 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 - failure (cause) - maintenance,installation - inadequate, owner/builder (cause) - directional control - restricted, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis One month prior to the accident the pilot had noted a leak in the right brake line. Upon inspection he found a small hole in the line. The line was replaced and the airplane was taxi, takeoff, and landing tested for brake airworthiness. No further discrepancies were noted. The pilot noted no difficulties with approach, initial touchdown, or the initial landing roll. Approximately midfield, after the airplane had slowed down, he applied brakes. The right brake did not activate properly, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, encountered a muddy field and nosed over. Witnesses to the accident stated that it was windy at traffic pattern altitude; however, surface winds were about 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On December 3, 1999, at 1715 hours Pacific standard time, an Oehling Questair Venture, N3QV, veered off runway 25 and nosed over after encountering soft soil during landing rollout at the Auburn, California, airport. The airplane, constructed, owned, and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The personal flight originated at the McMinnville, Oregon, airport at 1630, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. Prior to reaching the Auburn airport, the pilot cancelled the IFR flight plan due to prevailing visual meteorological conditions. Reported winds from the closest weather observation facility located approximately 60 nmi from the accident site were from 340 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot reported that there were no discrepancies noted with the approach or initial touchdown. He utilized his rudder and ailerons for directional control until midfield, when the airplane was slow enough to engage the brakes. He stated that there was very little response from the right brake and as the airplane was exiting to the left of the runway, he "pumped vigorously" on the right brake. After the airplane exited the dry runway, it went into a muddy field. The nose wheel dug into the mud and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that 1 month prior to the accident he had noted a leak in the right brake line. He had the brake line taken apart and found a small hole in the line. The line was replaced and then tested on three occasions, 1/2 hour at a time. The testing included fast taxis and takeoffs and landings. There were no discrepancies noted. A witness to the accident stated that the airplane landed approximately halfway down the runway; as the airplane continued the landing rollout, he lost sight of it because it went behind a row of hangars. He reported hearing the sound of metal on the runway, and then a pilot in the pattern reported that there was an accident at the departure end of runway 25. The ground witness reported that the winds were only 4 to 5 knots; however, he spoke to the pilot who reported the accident and he stated that he had to "crab into the wind quite a bit" for landing, but when he reached the threshold the winds died down significantly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3QV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3QV-2004-06-02), registration cancelled 2004-06-02, S/N 28, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Oehling QUESTAIR VENTURE (QUESTAIR V) - Registry model: [Oehling David C QUESTAIR VENTURE](https://openairdocs.org/model/oehling-david-c-questair-venture) (registry code 0561898) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 28 - Airframe hours: 450 - Engines: Continental IO-550-M 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David C. Oehling - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1999, 10 hours before - Departed: MMV, MCMINNVILLE, OR - Destination: AUN, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AUN, Auburn Muni Airport, runway 25, 3,100 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 450 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 14 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BAB, 60 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 19991203043329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991203043329A), Dec 3, 1999: Amtr QUESTAIRVENT, Auburn, CA, Substantial damage. (.4)One month prior to the accident the pilot had noted a leak in the right brake line. Upon inspection he found a small hole in the line. The line was… 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.