# NTSB NYC08LA273: Ouzts Rodney Rutan-LongEZ, N622EZ, Winder, GA, August 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2008, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Winder, GA - Coordinates: 33.982776, -83.667221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9828&lon=-83.6672&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68661 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08LA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68661/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68661 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA273 ## Probable cause The failure of the left brake due to contamination of the brake fluid. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Ouzts Rodney RUTAN-LONGEZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=056118F), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md) - [Fluids: hydraulic fluid](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071015): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Ouzts Rodney RUTAN-LONGEZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071015/cases.md?model=056118F), [All aircraft, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071015/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: [Ouzts Rodney RUTAN-LONGEZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=056118F), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ouzts Rodney RUTAN-LONGEZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056118F), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Ouzts Rodney RUTAN-LONGEZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056118F), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot purchased the airplane about 2 years prior to the accident; however, the accident flight was the first time he had flown it. On the day of the accident, the pilot performed about 2 hours of taxi testing and noted no problems with the brakes during taxi or before takeoff. He then performed a flight to a nearby airport and after landing when he applied both brakes, the left rudder/brake pedal at first functioned normally, then "sank to a stop." The aircraft veered to the right, off the edge of the runway, where it struck a runway sign before coming to rest about midfield. About 8 weeks prior to the accident, brake fluid was added to both master cylinders and the pilot performed taxi testing. During the testing, he experienced "softening of the brakes" or less resistance than normal. The pilot subsequently examined the brake system and noticed an area of brake fluid that had "lost color" and had faded from red to pink. Testing of the brake system after the accident revealed the left brake never engaged and the right brake functioned normally. An examination of the brake fluid revealed that the fluid in the line for the left brake was several shades lighter than the fluid in the line for the right brake. Examination of maintenance records revealed the airplane had accumulated 7 hours of total time. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2008, at 1400 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Rutan-LongEZ, N622EZ, was substantially damaged while landing at Winder-Barrow Airport (WDR), Winder, Georgia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Gwinnett County Airport (LZU), Lawrenceville, Georgia. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, he purchased the airplane about 2 years prior to the accident; however, the accident flight was the first time he had flown it. The previous owner had flown about 7 hours in the airplane prior to the accident pilot purchasing it. The accident pilot reported no maintenance had been performed to the brake system since he owned the airplane; however, brake fluid was added to both master cylinders about 8 weeks prior to the accident. At that time, the pilot performed taxi testing. He experienced "a little brake fade" which he described as a "softening of the brakes" or less resistance than normal. The "brake fade" was the same for the left and right brakes. The pilot did not think this was a problem but did further examine the brake system. His examination revealed both brake lines were clear and he did not observe any bubbles in the lines; however, he did observe about a 1/2-inch area of brake fluid that had "lost color" and had faded from red to pink. The pilot commented that the airplane did not have wheel pants installed at the time of the taxi testing. Additionally, the brake lines were independent of each other. On the day of the accident, prior to the test flight, the pilot installed wheel pants on the airplane. He then performed about 2 hours of taxi testing and taxied about 1/8 mile to the runway, which included 5 left turns (steering on the ground was performed through differential braking). The pilot noted no problems with the brakes during taxi or before takeoff. The takeoff and flight to WDR were uneventful, and the pilot flew a final approach to runway 31, at 80 knots, with the landing brake deployed. Prior to crossing the touchdown zone, he retracted the landing brake, touched down past the numbers and applied both brakes. The left rudder/brake pedal at first functioned normally, then "sank to a stop." The aircraft veered to the right, off the edge of the runway, where it struck a runway sign before coming to rest about midfield. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane after the accident. According to the inspector, when he tested the brakes, the left brake never engaged and the right brake functioned normally. An examination of the brake fluid revealed that the fluid in the line for the left brake was several shades lighter than the fluid in the line for the right brake. No additional mechanical malfunctions were noted with the brake system. The inspector also reported substantial damage to the fuselage and bulkhead. Examination of the maintenance logbooks for the airplane revealed the airplane was issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate on November 9, 2005, at a tachometer time of 0 hours. The next entry in the airframe logbook was for a condition inspection completed on July 26, 2008, at a tachometer time of 7 hours. According to the logbook entry, during the inspection, the "wheels were serviced," and a retract test was performed on the nose gear. No anomalies were noted in the entry. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N622EZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N622EZ-2017-10-31), registration cancelled 2017-10-31, S/N 656, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ouzts Rodney Rutan-LongEZ - Registry model: [Ouzts Rodney RUTAN-LONGEZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/ouzts-rodney-rutan-longez) (registry code 056118F) (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: 656 - Airframe hours: 7 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David Rowe - Registered owner: David Rowe - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 26, 2008 - Departed: LZU, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Destination: WDR, Winder, GA - Airport: WDR, Winder-Barrow Airport, runway 31, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 28, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 300 total, 300 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: WDR ## 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 20080806855519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080806855519A), Aug 6, 2008: Ouzts RUTANLONGEZ, Winder, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 08-06-2008 at Winder-barrow airport (wdr) aircraft N622EZ after touch down on runway 31 veered to the right of runway impacting a runway marker with… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68661. 8.7 MB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318870&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 710 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance Logs (item 3, .PDF, 617 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318873&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Logs-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Left brake line (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319105&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Left%20brake%20line%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Right brake line (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319106&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20brake%20line%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Damage to aircraft (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319107&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Damage%20to%20aircraft%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - FAA Interview (item 7, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319280&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Interview-Master.PDF - Pilot Interview (item 8, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319281&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF 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.