Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI00LA096

BUCKLIN, KS, USA

Aircraft #1

N27301

Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL-M-18

Analysis

The pilot reported that on landing the airplane veered to the right when the right main gear touched down. He attempted to correct the swerve using the left rudder and brake to no avail. The pilot reported the airplane nosed over as he was retracting the flaps. Inspection of the airplane did not to reveal any failure/malfunction of the right brake. Further inspection revealed the right entry door could not be opened due to crushing on the upper canopy/cockpit area when the airplane nosed over. The emergency door jettison system was unusable due to the weight of the inverted airplane on the door hinges.

Factual Information

On March 27, 2000, at 0930 central standard time, a WSK-PZL- Mielec PZL-M-18, N27301, operated by Randall Aviation, experienced a loss of directional control and nosed over during a landing roll at the Bucklin Airport, Bucklin, Kansas. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot was returning from an aerial application flight when the accident occurred. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Bucklin, Kansas, at 0845 cst. The pilot reported he was landing on runway 36 (2,500 feet x 120 feet, sod) with the local winds from the northwest at 2 to 3 knots. He reported the airplane touched down on the left main gear first followed by the right main. He reported that when the right main touched down the airplane pulled "hard" to the right. He reported, "I corrected with left rudder and brake. As the airplane slowed it pulled more to the right requiring more brake, I was retracting flaps as it slowed, the airplane overturned with 25 degrees flaps remaining." The pilot reported the right main gear touched down approximately 20 feet after the left main gear. The airplane nosed over approximately 300 feet down the runway from the point where the right main gear touched down. A post accident inspection of the airstrip and airplane was conducted by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Wichita, Kansas, Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported that ground scars on the airstrip indicated the right main gear was dragging. He reported an inspection of the right main gear brake failed to reveal any failure/malfunction. The FAA Inspector reported the pilot kicked out the right forward windscreen to exit the airplane. Further inspection revealed the right entry door could not be opened due to crushing on the upper canopy/cockpit area when the airplane nosed over. The inspector tried using the emergency door jettison system on the left cockpit door. He reported they were unable to move the handle which is attached to the hinge pin due to the weight of the airplane on the hinges.

Probable Cause and Findings

the right main gear brake was binding for an undetermined reason which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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