LAX97LA271

The pilot departed the morning of the accident to get the feel of the airplane. He was coming in for his fourth touchdown when he said he came in too fast and rolled out too far. He stated the left brake did not respond. A postaccident examination of the aircraft was conducted by an FAA airworthiness inspector. He reported that the aircraft design had several deficiencies. The rudder was very small and the 2-inch tail wheel horn was short. The wheels and brakes were from a Honda motorcycle, which was originally designed for a 200 pound motorcycle. This aircraft weighs approximately 1,200 pounds. The pilot had 2 hours of flight time in this airplane prior to the accident flight. There were no preimpact failures noted on the wheels and brakes.

On August 4, 1997, at 0850 hours mountain standard time, a Miller S-1, N22RM, ground looped during landing at Cottonwood, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated at Montezuma Airport, Camp Verde, Arizona, at 0830. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

According to the information provided in his report, the pilot had 2 hours in this particular aircraft. The pilot stated that he took off the morning of the accident flight to "get the feel of the aircraft and how it controlled and reacted." When he landed during his fourth touchdown, he said he "came in a little too fast and the roll out was too far." He stated that the right brake responded but that the left brake did not respond. The airplane went off the right side of runway 32 and came to rest at a 90-degree angle to the runway.

An FAA airworthiness inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft. He reported that the aircraft design had several deficiencies. He found that the rudder was too small for this aircraft and stated that the rudder would have no steering effect while the tail wheel was on the ground. Additionally, he stated that the tail wheel horn arm was minimal and would be very unresponsive considering the 2-inch diameter size of the tail wheel. He also reported that the main wheels and brakes are from a Honda "50" motorcycle. The original motorcycle design was intended to support a 200-pound vehicle. The aircraft is approximately 1,200 pounds. The inspector could not find any evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction with the landing gear or brake systems.