# NTSB WPR18LA109: Lyons Robert Navajo HKS, N1762C, Arlington, WA, March 11, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 11, 2018, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Arlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.160278, -122.165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1603&lon=-122.1650&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96902 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96902/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96902 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA109 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point, which required his use of heavy braking to stop on the remaining runway and exacerbated the uneven braking effectiveness of the main wheels. ## 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: [Lyons Robert NAVAJO HKS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05903LC), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lyons Robert NAVAJO HKS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05903LC), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: [Lyons Robert NAVAJO HKS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05903LC), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unnecessary use/operation; cases with it: [Lyons Robert NAVAJO HKS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=05903LC), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/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: [Lyons Robert NAVAJO HKS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05903LC), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the weight-shift-control aircraft. Onboard video indicated that the aircraft was about 100 ft above ground level as it passed the runway midpoint and subsequently touched down with about 630 ft of runway remaining. The aircraft landed on the left side of the runway centerline then veered to the right and nosed over on the right side of the runway. The aircraft was equipped with two hydraulic disc brakes located on each of the main landing gear, which activated simultaneously by means of a foot pedal. The pilot performed an examination of the brakes after the accident and reported that the right wheel brake "had more stopping power" than the left wheel brake and attributed the loss of control to the braking power discrepancy between the two main wheels. He also stated that his long landing resulted in his application of heavier braking than usual. It is likely that the pilot's decision to continue the approach and landing despite the short runway distance remaining, and his subsequent use of heavy braking to stop on the available runway exacerbated the uneven braking effectiveness and contributed to the loss of control. ## Factual narrative On March 11, 2018, about 1545 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Navajo HKS weight-shift-control aircraft, N1762C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Arlington, Washington. The sport pilot sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was landing when, shortly after the aircraft touched down on the main landing gear, he lowered the nose wheel and applied the brakes. The aircraft skidded to the right and came to rest on its right side opposite the direction of landing. An onboard camera revealed that the aircraft touched down left of the runway centerline about 2,800 ft along the 3,431-ft-long runway; shortly thereafter, it veered to the right and nosed over on the right side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the wing and its supporting structure. (see Figure 1.) Figure 1. Google earth view of the accident site The ground steering system comprised a left and right foot peg attached to each side of the nose landing gear strut. Both left and right main landing gear were equipped with hydraulic disc brakes, which operated simultaneously by means of a foot-controlled lever located above the left foot steering peg. The pilot performed an examination of the brakes after the accident and reported that the right wheel brake "had more stopping power" than the left wheel brake. He also stated that his long landing resulted in his application of heavier braking than usual. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1762C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1762C), registered now, S/N 74178, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LYONS ROBERT NAVAJO HKS (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Lyons Robert NAVAJO HKS](https://openairdocs.org/model/lyons-robert-navajo-hks) (registry code 05903LC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [HKS 700E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hks-700e) (registry code 33777, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 74178 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 634 - Engines: HKS 700E 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Felty Wesley R - Registered owner: Felty Wesley R - Airworthiness certificate: None - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 2018, 2 hours before - Departed: 13W, STANWOOD, WA - Destination: AWO, Arlington, WA - Airport: AWO, Arlington Muni, runway 29, 3,498 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Video recording device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review October 11, 2012; seat: center; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 509 total, 444 in this make and model, 396 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KAWO ## 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 20180311002259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180311002259A), Mar 11, 2018: Lyons Robert NAVAJO HKS, Arlington, WA, Substantial damage. On March 11, 2018 at, or about, 1530 local time the aircraft was landing on runway 29 at Arlington municipal airport (kawo). The aircraft touched down just… ## Other investigations on N1762C (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA08CA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA172), Aug 7, 2008: Lyons Navajo HKS (N1762C), Waterville, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was a microburst condition. ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96902. 24.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9773319&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9774664&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4-9-18%20Pilot%20Statement%20on%20Trike_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email communications 3-22-18 (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9772049&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3-22-18%20RE_%20Arlington,%20WA,%20Trike%20Mechanical%20Anomalies_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email communications 4-4-18 (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9774838&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4-4-18%20Email%20FAA-Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email communications 4-10-18 (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9772952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4-10-18%20FW_%20Comm%20from%20Pilot%20Sreering%20%26%20braking%20photos_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Faa-photo array (item 6, PDF, 8 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9773776&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-FAA-Rel.pdf - Video (item 7, MP4, 21.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9774572&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=PlaneCrash3-Rel.mp4 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.