IRVIN STEPHEN D RUTAN LONG E Z
Tucson, AZ — April 22, 2018
Event Information
| Date | April 22, 2018 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA18CA227 |
| Event ID | 20180424X14101 |
| Location | Tucson, AZ |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 32.13917, -111.17361 |
| Airport | RYAN FIELD |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | IRVIN STEPHEN D |
| Model | RUTAN LONG E Z |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s excessive ground speed and loss of directional control while exiting the taxiway.
Full Narrative
According to the pilot in the airplane with a retractable nose-wheel, he landed about mid-field on the 4,000ft long runway, and his approach speed had been about 10 knots fast.
During the landing roll, the pilot started a right turn to exit his approaching taxiway and pressed the brakes hard, because the airplane's ground speed was too fast. He reported that he heard a "small pop" and that he had "no braking control" and the airplane veered to the left.
He released the brake pressure and retracted the nose landing gear to slow the airplane. The airplane skidded off the left side of the runway and collided with trees.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left canard and the right wing.
A Federal Aviation Administration, Aviation Safety Inspector examined the airplane after the accident. He reported that the right brake fluid line failed at the brake caliper. He asserted that the brake line failure was not a material failure, rather it was the result of the airplane's collision with trees.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.