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March 13, 2012 · Cook Smith AVN Replica SU · N712AZ

St. Johns, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 13, 2012
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
St. Johns, AZ
Aircraft
Cook Smith AVN Replica SU
Tail Number
N712AZ
Operator
Clayton Mcmartin
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR12LA135

The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was receiving instruction in it. The pilot reported that the day before the accident, during landing, the left brake became less responsive than the right, and the airplane veered off of the runway but incurred no damage. The pilot and his flight instructor then bled the brake lines. This was followed by taxi and touch-and-go landing checks with no anomalies noted. The following morning the brakes were tested again and were operational. During the fourth landing that morning, the right brake locked up, and the airplane swerved to the right and nosed over. Although the flight instructor indicated that he had signed off the pilot for his tailwheel endorsement the day of the accident, he did not hold a current airman medical certificate. Additionally, the instructor reported that he did not remain on the flight controls with the pilot during the landings. Postaccident examination of the brake system revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilots’ failure to maintain directional control when the right brake locked up during the landing roll for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Full Narrative

On March 13, 2012, at 0950 mountain standard time, an experimental Cook Smith Aviation Replica SU, N712AZ, veered from the runway during landing at St. Johns Municipal Airport, St. Johns, Arizona. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the certified flight instructor (CFI) was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, he purchased the airplane on March 12, and was ferrying it from Arizona to Texas. The CFI was providing flight instruction to the owner during the flight. While landing for fuel at St. Johns on March 12, the pilot discovered that the left brake was less responsive than the right. The airplane veered off of the runway, but incurred no damage. The pilot indicated that the brakes were not operating on either the right or left side. The pilot and CFI then decided to bleed the brake lines. The brakes were successfully tested during taxi tests, followed by touch-and-go takeoffs and landings, and the pilot and CFI remained overnight in St. Johns. The following morning, the brakes were tested again, and found to be operational. The winds were calm. The pilot and CFI departed to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. During the fourth landing, the left brake was not as responsive as the right brake. The pilot reported that the right brake locked up and the airplane swerved to the right, skidding off of the runway, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The certified flight instructor (CFI) was interviewed following the accident. He reported that he was flying with the aircraft owner from Arizona to Texas. They had landed at St. Johns the previous day and encountered a problem with the brakes in the airplane. The airplane departed the runway surface but resulted in no damage. They elected to bleed the brake system and completed post maintenance checks on the airplane. No problems were noted. The following morning they completed three landings successfully. On the fourth landing, the brakes locked up and the airplane veered off into a gully. The CFI was not on the flight controls at the time, but indicated that the left brake failed. The CFI stated that the pilot had about 10 hours in a similar make and model airplane as the accident airplane. He gave the pilot his tailwheel endorsement the morning of the accident; however the CFI did not hold a current airman medical. 14 CFR Part 61.31 states, in part, "...no person may act as pilot in command of a tailwheel airplane unless that person has received and logged flight training from an authorized instructor in a tailwheel airplane and received an endorsement in the person's logbook from an authorized instructor who found the person proficient in the operation of a tailwheel airplane." The FAA accident coordinator examined the airplane following the accident. No mechanical anomalies were identified with the braking system.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:50 MST
Nearest AirportSt. Johns Industrial Air Park (0nm)
Runway14
Runway Length5322 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCook Smith AVN Replica SU
Tail NumberN712AZ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorClayton Mcmartin
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsMattituck · TMX O-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · Third Class · None
Crew 2Age 62 · None · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 9 C
Altimeter30.12 inHg
Observation Time16:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data