Pilot Debrief

FLEET 7 near Louisa, VA — 2013-09-07

Final reportERA13LA418
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Date
2013-09-07
Location
Louisa, VA, USA
Airport
LKU
Aircraft
FLEET 7
Registration
N9433
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

Maintenance personnel’s improper service, adjustment, and inspection of the brakes, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent noseover.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, following a normal left-crosswind landing, the airplane veered left. Further right rudder application resulted in the airplane continuing to veer left until it exited the edge of the runway and nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the brake cable was not properly adjusted and that, as a result, the application of the right rudder pedal engaged the left brake. The airplane's last annual inspection occurred about 2 months before the accident, and, during this inspection, maintenance personnel were required to check the brakes for proper adjustment. It is likely that if maintenance personnel had adequately conducted the annual inspection they could have recognized the incorrectly adjusted brakes. No other anomalies or mechanical malfunctions were found that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing or corrected earlier to prevent veering off runway.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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