SEA04LA070

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 195 · Everett, WA · April 17, 2004

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
April 17, 2004, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Everett, WA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N127DDCessna 195
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 1, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA-FSDO
FAA report
20040417007059A
Case key
59087

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft as a result of a locked main gear brake during the landing roll. An inadvertent ground loop was a factor.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Landing gear,normal brake system - lockedCause
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in command(cfi)Cause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Ground loop/swerve - inadvertentPilot in command(cfi)Factor
Terrain condition - runway

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot had accumulated about 10 hours of flight time since his recent purchase of the aircraft. After completing some air work, the flight returned to the airport to practice touch-and-go landings. Five landings had been accomplished without incident. During the landing roll for the sixth touch-and-go, the instructor stated that the aircraft started to pull to the right side. The instructor instructed the student to release the right brake and rudder, however, the aircraft "responded as if the student had increased the brake and rudder pressure." The instructor immediately applied full left rudder and braking action, and reduced power to idle, but he was unable to overcome the condition. The aircraft continued to skid toward the right side of the runway, in a side skipping action, which resulted in a partial ground loop. The aircraft came to rest on the side of the runway. After both pilots exited the aircraft to inspect for damage, they noted that when they attempted to move the tail back onto the runway, the aircraft would not move. It was also noted that the right side brake was "...very hot and smelled of hard braking when in fact we had not applied right brake during the roll out, and there were skid marks from both main gear wheels on the runway." A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector inspected the aircraft after it had been moved to a hangar. The Inspector reported that he did not observe any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the brake system and did not note any evidence of heat distress.

Factual narrative

On April 17, 2004, at 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 195, N127DD, ground looped during the landing roll at Snohomish County (Paine Field), Everett, Washington, during a 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and neither the student pilot (registered owner of the aircraft) nor the flight instructor were injured. The flight departed from Paine Field about one hour and 15 minutes prior to the accident.

During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the flight instructor reported that the student pilot had accumulated about 10 hours of flight time since his recent purchase of the aircraft. After completing some air work, the flight returned to Paine Field to practice touch-and-go landings. Five landings had been accomplished without incident to runway 16 right. During the landing roll for the sixth touch-and-go, the instructor stated that the aircraft started to pull to the right side. The instructor instructed the student to release the right brake and rudder, however, the aircraft "responded as if the student had increased the brake and rudder pressure." The instructor immediately applied full left rudder and braking action, and reduced power to idle, but he was unable to overcome the condition. The aircraft continued to skid toward the right side of the runway, in a side skipping action, which resulted in a partial ground loop. The aircraft came to rest on the side of the runway.

The student pilot reported similar circumstances leading up to the accident.

After both pilots exited the aircraft to inspect for damage, they noted that when they attempted to move the tail back onto the runway, the aircraft would not move. It was also noted that the right side brake was "...very hot and smelled of hard braking when in fact we had not applied right brake during the roll out, and there were skid marks from both main gear wheels on the runway."

About one hour and thirty minutes after the accident, the aircraft was found to move without difficulty.

Post-accident inspection of the aircraft noted substantial lower fuselage wrinkles in the area just forward of the landing gear leg attach points.

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Seattle, Washington, Flight Standards District Office, inspected the aircraft after it had been moved to a hangar. The Inspector reported that he did not observe any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the brake system and did not note any evidence of heat distress.

The flight instructor reported that during a previous flight, the right side brake experienced a similar occurrence. During this occurrence, the aircraft was able to exit the runway onto the taxiway. The instructor stated that the aircraft could not be taxied under its own power and was subsequently towed back to parking. The wheel brakes were checked by the owner's mechanic. The aircraft maintenance logbook indicated that on February 27, 2004, the brake cylinder "O" ring and insulators were replaced. The brake lines were also bled.

The aircraft had operated with no discrepancies noted for approximately 5.5 hours since the maintenance work was accomplished.

Aircraft

Registration
N127DD
Reported as
Cessna 195
Category
Airplane
Serial number
7040
Airframe hours
2,720
Engine
Jacobs R755-S, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
James R. Grass
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 1, 2003 · 29 hours before
Departed
PAE · Everett, WA
Airport
PAE · Snohomish Co (Paine Field), runway 16R, 9,010 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
72
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
October 30, 2003
Seat
Right
Flight hours
21,372 total · 219 in this make and model · 19,665 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Role
Student pilot
Injuries
None

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
5,000 ft broken
Temperature
52 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
29.96 inHg
Observed at
PAE

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.