Thursday, January 07, 2021

System/Component Malfunction/Failure (non-power): Murphy Rebel, N616PM; accident occurred January 04, 2021 in O'Brien, Suwannee County, Florida










Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket


Location: O'Brien, Florida
Accident Number: ERA21LA100
Date and Time: January 4, 2021, 11:40 Local
Registration: N616PM
Aircraft: Murphy Rebel
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that during takeoff, when the airplane was about 1,000 ft down the 2,750-ft-long grass runway, he was unable to raise the airplane’s nosewheel. He increased the flap setting, but the airplane could not leave the ground. Because the airplane was beyond the pilot’s normal takeoff abort point, he reduced the throttle fully and applied the brakes. The airplane then departed the runway end and impacted a fence and two roadside ditches before coming to rest. The airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. After coming to rest, a fire ignited in the dry grass under the airplane’s right main tire and was extinguished by the pilot and passenger.

Following the accident, the pilot towed the airplane back to his hangar, and noticed during that process that the right wheel brake was sticking and that the right wheel had left a groove through the grass. A subsequent examination of the right wheel and brake revealed that the right wheel rotated freely but with some resistance noted from the brake. The pilot reported that there were no other mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Given this information, it is likely that the airplane’s right brake was partially engaged during the takeoff, which restricted the airplane’s ability to accelerate to an adequate flying speed and the pilot’s ability to pitch to a normal takeoff attitude. This condition resulted pilot’s eventual decision to abort the takeoff, and the subsequent runway overrun. Had the pilot noted this lack of acceleration earlier during the takeoff, it is possible that the takeoff could have been aborted with sufficient runway remaining to avoid the runway overrun.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A partially engaged right wheel brake, which restricted the airplane’s acceleration and the pilot’s ability to pitch to takeoff attitude, and resulted in an aborted takeoff and subsequent runway excursion.

Findings

Aircraft Brake - Malfunction
Aircraft Airspeed - Attain/maintain not possible
Aircraft Pitch control - Attain/maintain not possible

Factual Information

History of Flight

Takeoff Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) (Defining event)
Takeoff-rejected takeoff Runway excursion

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private 
Age: 69, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None 
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: BasicMed With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: January 29, 2018
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: November 5, 2019
Flight Time: (Estimated) 1265 hours (Total, all aircraft), 500 hours (Total, this make and model), 1104 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 20.1 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 4.7 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Passenger Information

Certificate: 
Age: Male
Airplane Rating(s): 
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): 
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Murphy
Registration: N616PM
Model/Series: Rebel
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2007
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental (Special) 
Serial Number: 1
Landing Gear Type: Unknown; Float
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: April 1, 2020 
Condition Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1730 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2465 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: O320-E2D
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 150 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PIE, 11 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 11:53 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 307°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /
Wind Direction: 20°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.11 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 7°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: O'Brien, FL 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Lake City, FL (LCQ)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 
Type of Airspace: 

Airport Information

Airport: Suwannee Belle Airport 9FLO
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 54 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 020 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2750 ft / 85 ft 
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 30.089803,-83.086307 (est)

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