# NTSB WPR15LA246: Taylorcraft BC12 D, N43616, Libby, MT, August 17, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2015, 19:15 local (Aug 17, 2015, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Libby, MT - Coordinates: 48.283889, -115.49028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2839&lon=-115.4903&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Amdinistration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91819 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91819/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91819 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA246 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot used both brake and rudder inputs in an effort to return to the runway centerline; however, despite the pilot's attempts to regain directional control, the airplane continued off the left side of the runway and ground looped. Postaccident examination of the left landing gear and braking system revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2015, about 1915 mountain daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC-12D, N43616, experienced a brake system malfunction during the landing roll at the Libby Airport, Libby, Montana. A private individual owned the airplane and the pilot was operating it under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot and passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed from a remote grass airstrip in Yaak, Montana about 1845 with a planned destination of Libby. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the pilot had not filed a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. The pilot stated that after completing the approximate 20 minute flight, he configured the airplane to land on runway 33 at the Libby Airport. Upon touchdown, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot used both the brake and rudder inputs in an effort to return to the runway center. Despite the pilot's attempts to regain directional control, the airplane continued off the left side of the runway and ground looped. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the wing spar. The pilot further stated that the loss of directional control was precipitated by a landing gear malfunction. He opined that the left brake likely seized after touchdown, which was evident from the skidmark on the runway surface. The brake system was the original cable-operated drum brake. The left landing gear was locked immediately after the accident, but after several hours was free to turn again. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified airframe and powerplant mechanic examined and disassembled the left landing gear. He stated the examination of the braking system revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. He further stated that he could smell a burned odor from the brake, but they functioned normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43616](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43616), registered now, S/N 7275, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC12 D (D) - Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC12-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-d) (registry code 8850316) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7275 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1241.3 - Engines: Continental Motors C85-8F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2015, 11 hours before - Departed: Yaak, MT - Destination: S59, Libby, MT - Airport: S59, Libby, runway 33, 5,003 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,136 total, 28 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: K65S, 42 nm away ## 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 20150816013599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150816013599A), Aug 16, 2015: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Libby, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that the left brake was locked on landing causing the aircraft to groundloop to the left. Collapsed the right gear, right wing struck the surface… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91819. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 997 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Mechanic (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Mechanic-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.