# NTSB SEA08LA060: DeSousa Jabiru J400, N522RJ, Santa Monica, CA, January 14, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 13, 2008, 17:20 local (Jan 14, 2008, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Santa Monica, CA - Coordinates: 34.015834, -118.45111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0158&lon=-118.4511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67367 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67367/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and loss of the wheel brake system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [De Sousa Rogerio JABIRU J400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056207Y), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [De Sousa Rogerio JABIRU J400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=056207Y), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [De Sousa Rogerio JABIRU J400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=056207Y), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [De Sousa Rogerio JABIRU J400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=056207Y), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [De Sousa Rogerio JABIRU J400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056207Y), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that the airplane touched down beyond the midpoint of the runway, and he applied "heavy braking." He reported that the brakes failed about three-quarters of the way down the 4,973-foot runway. The airplane overran the runway, and collided with a ditch which resulted in substantial damage to the wing assembly. Examination of the single-caliper main wheel brake assemblies by the pilot revealed extensive wear to the brake pads and rotors. He reported that both pads on the right-hand brake assembly were "melted," and the associated backing plate was bent. The actuator piston and associated O-ring was displaced, and a fluid leak was noted. The brake pads were original equipment that were installed when the airplane was manufactured 160 hours prior to the accident. The most recent condition inspection was completed 5 months and 22 hours prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On January 13, 2008, at 1720 Pacific standard time, an experimental DeSousa Jabiru J400 airplane, N522RJ, overran runway 21 during landing at the Santa Monica Airport, Santa Monica, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot, the owner and operator of the airplane, and the two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The airplane departed Catalina Island, California, approximately 35 minutes prior to the accident. Santa Monica was the pilot's intended destination and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated the airplane touched down approximately halfway down the runway. He reported that he applied full brakes, however, approximately three-quarters of the way down the 4,973-foot runway, the brakes failed and the airplane overran the runway. After exiting the runway, the airplane collided with a concrete ditch and skidded down a 35-foot embankment. The airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing assembly. Examination of the single-caliper, main wheel brake assemblies by the pilot revealed extensive wear to the brake pads and rotors. He reported that both pads on the right-hand brake assembly were "melted" and the associated backing plate was bent. The actuator piston and associated o-ring was displaced and a fluid leak was noted. The airplane's most recent conditional inspection was completed on August 27, 2007, at a recorded airframe time of 160 hours. The airplane accrued 22 flight/operational hours between the time of inspection and the accident. The brake pads were original equipment that was installed when the airplane was manufactured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N522RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N522RJ-2018-01-17), registration cancelled 2018-01-17, S/N 250, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DeSousa Jabiru J400 - Registry model: [De Sousa Rogerio JABIRU J400](https://openairdocs.org/model/de-sousa-rogerio-jabiru-j400) (registry code 056207Y) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 250 - Airframe hours: 160 - Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rogerio DeSousa - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2007 - Departed: AVX, AVALON, CA - Destination: SMO, Santa Monica, CA - Airport: SMO, Santa Monica Muni, runway 21, 4,973 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 160 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20080113009979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080113009979A), Jan 13, 2008: Jabiru JABIRUJ400, Santa Monica, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft touched down on runway 21 with approximately 3000' of runway remaining. During the landing roll the aircraft suffered a brake system failure… 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.