Pilot Debrief

KUBASSEK DAVID ZENITH 601 near Aiken, SC — 2017-07-22

Final reportERA17LA258
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Date
2017-07-22
Location
Aiken, SC, USA
Airport
AIK
Aircraft
KUBASSEK DAVID ZENITH 601
Registration
N651JL
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The failure of the nose landing gear’s (NLG) lower bearing, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during landing, a runway excursion, and the NLG collapsing.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that he had recently purchased the experimental, amateur-built airplane and was returning home after completing a prepurchase inspection and an uneventful test flight. During the landing, the nose landing gear (NLG) started "shaking violently," and he responded by pulling back on the yoke, which resulted in a tail strike. The airplane subsequently veered off the runway, and the NLG collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, the left wing's leading edge, and the NLG. Examination of the NLG revealed that its lower bearing was fractured, which likely resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Inspection of the nose landing gear before flight could have identified the fracture.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents6

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