# NTSB MIA07CA016: Jerald F. Huffman Rebel, N4038W, Wimauma, FL, November 14, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 14, 2006, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Wimauma, FL
- Coordinates: 27.711944, -82.282775
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7119&lon=-82.2828&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 26, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64875
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA07CA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64875/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07CA016

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent application of brakes during the landing flare touchdown which resulted in the airplane nosing over.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - brakes(normal) - inadvertent activation, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that as the airplane's tires touched the turf runway he felt an abnormal drag on the airplane, and before he could react the nose of the airplane went into the dirt and the airplane slowly nosed over. According to the pilot, he inadvertently placed his feet on the brakes during touchdown.  Prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems.

## Factual narrative

On November 14, 2006, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Jerald F. Huffman, model Rebel, experimental amateur-built airplane, N4038W, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight,  nosed over during landing at  Wimauma, Florida.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The commercial-rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Wimauma, Florida, the same day, about 1620.

The pilot stated that after a 15 minute flight he returned, and was in the process of landing on runway 27 at Wimauma when the accident occurred. He said that during the landing, as the airplane's tires touched the turf runway, he felt an abnormal drag on the airplane. He said he had the airplane's "control stick full back, and the airplane was at idle power." Before he could react, the pilot said that the nose of the airplane went into the dirt and the airplane slowly nosed over onto its back. The pilot said that he had inadvertently placed his feet on the brake during touchdown, and reflected in his report that prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4038W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Jerald F. Huffman Rebel
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 065
- Airframe hours: 120
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jerald F. Huffman
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2006, 16 hours before
- Departed: FD77, Wimauma, FL
- Destination: FD77

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: left; flight hours: 799 total, 115 in this make and model, 799 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: TPA

## 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 20061114024199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061114024199A), Nov 14, 2006: Amtr MURPHYREBEL, Wimauma, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 14, 2006 at 1700 hours eastern daylight time, a murphy experimental airplane, N4038W, registered to and operated by the pilot [privacy data…

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.

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