# NTSB LAX08CA293: Brubaker F1, N954CB, Truckee, CA, September 11, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 10, 2008, 17:10 local (Sep 11, 2008, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Truckee, CA - Coordinates: 39.318611, -120.136947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3186&lon=-120.1369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68916 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA293 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68916/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA293 ## Probable cause The failure of the bolts securing the tail wheel to its attach point that resulted in a loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear attach section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Brubaker Calvin M BRUBAKER F1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md?model=05619BM), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Brubaker Calvin M BRUBAKER F1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05619BM), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Brubaker Calvin M BRUBAKER F1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05619BM), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Brubaker Calvin M BRUBAKER F1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05619BM), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Brubaker Calvin M BRUBAKER F1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05619BM), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot made a normal landing but the airplane veered off the runway when the tail wheel made contact with the pavement. The airplane ground looped, sustaining damage to the left wing tip. The pilot said that rudder control inputs he made were ineffective in controlling the airplane. During a post-accident examination of the airplane, the pilot discovered that the bolts which attach the tail wheel assembly to the tail spring were sheared. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 2008, about 1710 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur built Brubaker F1, N954CB, ground looped during landing at Truckee-Tahoe Airport (TRK), Truckee, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certificated private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing tip. The cross-country personal flight departed Bountiful, Utah, about 1530. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that during a normal landing using runway 10 the airplane veered off to the right side of the runway when the tail wheel made runway contact. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control by applying full left rudder, but his rudder control inputs were ineffective. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing tip, the left landing gear, and the tail wheel. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The pilot submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) on September 16, 2008. On October 3, 2008, the pilot submitted a modification to the original report following further examination of the airplane. The pilot reported that it appeared that the AN3 through bolts, which attach the tail wheel assembly to the tail spring, were sheared. According to FAA Advisory Circular AC 20-27F, Certification and Operation of Amateur-Built Aircraft, "Amateur builders are free to develop their own designs or build from existing designs. We do not approve these designs and it would be impractical to develop design standards for the wide variety of design configurations, created by designers, kit manufacturers, and amateur builders." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N954CB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N954CB), registered now, S/N 116, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Brubaker F1 - Registry model: [Brubaker Calvin M BRUBAKER F1](https://openairdocs.org/model/brubaker-calvin-m-brubaker-f1) (registry code 05619BM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 116 - Airframe hours: 112 - Engines: Avworks IO-540 Exp 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 26, 2008, 7 hours before - Departed: BTF, Bountiful, UT - Destination: TRK, Truckee, CA - Airport: TRK, Truckee-Tahoe Airport, runway 10, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 21, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 1,098 total, 114 in this make and model, 1,010 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KTRK ## 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 20080910845609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080910845609A), Sep 10, 2008: BRUBAKERF1, Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot ground looped aircraft on landing runway 10 to trk airport, and skidded off the right side of rwy. Aircraft sustained damaged to the propeller left… 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.