WPR12CA363

NTSB accident investigation · Silvaire Luscombe 8E · Hillsboro, OR · August 19, 2012

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 19, 2012, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
Place
Hillsboro, OR
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N2287KSilvaire Luscombe 8E
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 5, 2012
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20120819018219A
Case key
84751

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 improper use of the brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotSilvaire LUSCOMBE 8E: 2 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Landing gear system: brakeAircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operationSilvaire LUSCOMBE 8E: 1 caseAll aircraft: 297 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to practice landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane on a grass airstrip. After departure, he remained in the airstrip’s traffic pattern and configured the airplane for a wheel landing. During the landing roll, with the airplane’s main landing gear on the grass and the tailwheel still airborne, the pilot applied brake pressure. The airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to practice landing his tail-wheel equipped airplane on a grass airstrip. After departure, he remained in the airstrip’s traffic pattern and configured the airplane for a wheel landing. During the landing roll, with the airplane’s main landing on the grass and the tailwheel still airborne, the pilot applied brake pressure. The airplane nosed over, sustaining damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N2287K
Reported as
Silvaire Luscombe 8E
Category
Airplane
Serial number
5014
Engine
Cont Motor C85 SERIES, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
7S3 · Hillsboro, OR
Destination
7S3 · Hillsboro, OR
Airport
7S3 · Stark's Twin Oaks Airpark, runway 02, 2,400 × 50 ft, grass/turf

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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
61
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Flight hours
671 total · 656 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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