N7707K

On November 3, 2000, at 1500 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-20, N7707K, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, nosed over during the landing roll at Hood River, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed from a private grass airstrip near Husum, Washington, about 10 minutes prior to the accident.

During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that when he departed from the grass airstrip in Husum, he noted that the aircraft was pulling to the left and that the aircraft took twice as long for a takeoff roll than normal. The pilot made corrections and continued the takeoff. Approximately 10 minutes later, the pilot set-up for a landing on Runway 7 at Hood River. The pilot reported that the approach and landing were normal. The aircraft touched down in a three-point configuration and immediately veered to the left. The pilot corrected with right rudder control and backpressure on the elevator. The aircraft continued to parallel the runway centerline for about 60 feet, when the airplane tipped over onto the wing and the propeller contacted the runway surface. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.

A skid mark on the runway was noted and appeared to be from the left main tire. After the aircraft was moved from the runway, the pilot reported that he rotated the left main tire and noted a "restriction." When he had his mechanic look at it, the tire rotated freely. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Portland, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office also inspected the brake system and reported that the brakes operated normally.

Maintenance records indicate that at the last annual inspection completed on August 8, 2000, new brake liners were installed. The aircraft had accumulated a total flight time of 16 hours since the last inspection. The pilot's flight logbook indicated that since October 8, 2000, he had successfully made 11 landings without incident in this aircraft.