Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after experiencing a brake system malfunction during landing. Factors related to the accident were the malfunction of a landing gear brake as reported by the pilot, and the crosswind conditions.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 13, 2004, at 1830 eastern daylight time, an Aviat Pitts S2B, N963CB, was substantially damaged while landing at the Butler County Regional Airport (HAO), Hamilton, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he had just completed a 1-hour flight, which included sustained inverted flight, and returned to land at HAO. After touching down on runway 29, a 5,500-foot long, 100-foot wide asphalt runway, the right landing gear brake stuck. The airplane veered to the left, departed the runway surface, and struck a taxiway sign with the right wing. The right landing gear assembly collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in a grass area.
The pilot additionally reported to the inspector that he had accumulated about 19 hours of total flight experience in make and model airplane.
Examination of the brake system by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any abnormalities.
Review of a weather observation recorded at HAO, at 1753, included winds from 230 degrees 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC04LA140