# NTSB WPR09LA201: Brinker / Garner BI-PLANE, N375CB, Caldwell, ID, April 17, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 17, 2009, 12:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Caldwell, ID - Coordinates: 43.641666, -116.635559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6417&lon=-116.6356&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73679 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73679/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73679 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA201 ## Probable cause Loss of control during the landing roll for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a routine test flight, he felt an abnormal vibration and decided to divert to a nearby airport. After noting the wind conditions, the pilot entered the airport traffic pattern and proceeded to execute a wheel landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. As the tailwheel settled onto the runway, the airplane immediately veered to the right. Despite the pilot's control and brake inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right and exited the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest in a nose-low attitude adjacent to the runway surface. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left and right top and bottom wing assemblies and fuselage were structurally damaged. Flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane to all flight controls. Movement of the tailwheel by hand revealed that it locked into its normal turning radius and subsequently broke free with little pressure. No anomalies could be found with the airframe; however, examination of the runway revealed a black rubber transfer mark with a width corresponding to the width of the airplane's tailwheel. The mark was not linear, but had a zigzag shape consistent with the tailwheel shimmying. ## Factual narrative On April 17, 2009, about 1240 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur built Brinker / Garner tailwheel equipped bi-plane, N375CB, was substantially damaged during landing roll at the Caldwell Industrial Airport (EUL), Caldwell, Idaho. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the test flight. The local flight originated from the Sunrise Skypark (ID40), Marsing, Idaho, at 1130. The pilot reported that during a routine test flight, he conducted a series of maneuvers to see how the airplane performed with full scale deflection of the control surfaces. Following the maneuvers, the pilot entered level flight and applied full throttle to perform a "top speed test." As the airplane accelerated past about 100 miles per hour, the airplane "started to vibrate severely." The pilot stated that after reducing the throttle and slowing the airplane down, the vibration lessoned around 70 miles per hour, and he decided to divert to EUL. The pilot entered the traffic pattern for runway 30 and proceeded to execute a wheel landing slightly left of the runway centerline. The pilot said that as the tailwheel settled onto the runway, the airplane immediately veered to the right. Despite the pilot's control and brake inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right and exited the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest in a nose low attitude adjacent to the runway surface. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left and right wing assemblies and fuselage were structurally damaged. The left main landing gear wheel assembly was separated. The tailwheel remained attached to the airframe. The left and right springs remained attached and undamaged. Movement of the tailwheel by hand revealed that it locked into its normal turning radius and subsequently broke free with little pressure. No anomalies could be found, however, examination of the runway by the FAA inspector revealed a black rubber transfer mark with a width corresponding to the width of the airplane's tailwheel. The mark was not linear, but had a zigzag shape consistent with the tailwheel shimmying. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N375CB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N375CB-2010-10-06), registration cancelled 2010-10-06, S/N U R 1, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BRINKER / GARNER BI-PLANE - Registry model: [Brinker M/Garner J BI-PLANE](https://openairdocs.org/model/brinker-m-garner-j-bi-plane) (registry code 05627ZF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: U R 1 - Airframe hours: 2 - Engines: Continental C85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Kurt G Becker - Registered owner: Brinker Michael W - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 2009, 2 hours before - Departed: ID40, Marsing, ID - Destination: ID40, Caldwell, ID - Airport: EUL, Caldwell Industrial Airport, runway 30, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review May 26, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 15,900 total, 2 in this make and model, 15,613 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EUL ## 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 20090417003769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090417003769A), Apr 17, 2009: Brinke BIPLANE, Caldwell, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he elected to land aircraft while on its second evaluation flight after noticing an unexplained vibration that he later thought was… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73679. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 807 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313168&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313169&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: View of the main wreckage. (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313171&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20the%20main%20wreckage.%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: View of the runway skid marks. (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 408 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20the%20runway%20skid%20marks.%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-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.