Pilot Debrief

ROBERT E BOUNDS BOUNDS BEARCOUPE near Hanksville, UT — 2017-05-05

Final reportWPR17LA098
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Date
2017-05-05
Location
Hanksville, UT, USA
Airport
HVE
Aircraft
ROBERT E BOUNDS BOUNDS BEARCOUPE
Registration
N136BC
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain airplane control during landing when he inadvertently applied brake pressure to the toe brakes when the airplane touched down.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and private pilot were conducting a personal flight in the tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane. About 10 minutes before landing, the flight instructor, who had no previous experience flying the airplane, took control of the flight from the pilot and continued flying the airplane to landing. Due to his lack of prior experience flying the airplane, which had foot pedals that were raised off the floor, he inadvertently applied pressure to the toe brakes, which resulted in the airplane nosing over immediately on touchdown. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and wing attachment fittings during the accident. Both the pilot and flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Instructor should have practiced in the aircraft before attempting landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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