Nose Over: Dakota Cub S18-160, N811RD; accident occurred August 07, 2020 at Old Orchard Airpark (2NK9), Modena, Ulster County, New York

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Latham, New York

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

https://registry.faa.gov/N811RD

Location: Modena, NY
Accident Number: ERA20CA279
Date & Time: 08/07/2020, 1410 EDT
Registration: N811RD
Aircraft: DAKOTA S18-160
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Nose over/nose down
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

According to the pilot, he was landing after a local flight with a passenger seated in the rear seat of the tail-wheel equipped airplane. During touchdown the airplane started to nose over, and the pilot realized that the passenger had his feet on the brakes. He yelled at the passenger to get his feet off the brakes, but it was too late to prevent the airplane from nosing over. The airplane flipped over inverted and came to a complete stop. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the vertical stabilizer was buckled. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The passenger's inadvertent application of the rear brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.

Findings

Personnel issues Use of equip/system - Passenger

Aircraft Brake - Unintentional use/operation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing Miscellaneous/other

Landing-landing roll Nose over/nose down (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 82, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider; Gyroplane; Helicopter
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane; Helicopter
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine; Glider; Helicopter; Instrument Airplane; Instrument Helicopter
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/16/2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 10/16/2019
Flight Time: (Estimated) 16000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 32 hours (Total, this make and model), 14000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft) 

Passenger Information

Certificate:

Age: Male

Airplane Rating(s):

Seat Occupied: Rear

Other Aircraft Rating(s):

Restraint Used: 5-point

Instrument Rating(s):

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): 

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: 

Last FAA Medical Exam:

Occupational Pilot: No 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: DAKOTA
Registration: N811RD
Model/Series: S18-160
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2019
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 2018-001
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/01/2020, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2050 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 110 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: YO 360 EXP-91
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: POU, 163 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1453 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 90°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 4300 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Unknown
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 150°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.11 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 17°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Modena, NY (2NK9)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Modena, NY (2NK9)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1340 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Old Orchard Airpark (2NK9)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 660 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 36
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2800 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41.657222, -74.077222 (est)