Tappen Chris VELOCITY SUV N399DG

Summary

On 30 May 2017 at about 23:00 local time, a Tappen Chris VELOCITY SUV registered N399DG was involved in an accident near Puyallup, Washington, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 May 2017 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Puyallup, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Pierce County - Thun Field (PLU)

Coordinates

47.1039, -122.2872

Aircraft

Tappen Chris VELOCITY SUV

Registration

N399DG

Category

Airplane

Year built

2012

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Puyallup → Puyallup

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR17LA114

Nobody was injured.

The airplane builder's failure to install safety wires on the brake disc attachment bolts, and the mechanic’s failure to identify the omission during the condition inspection. The subsequent brake disc separation resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot stated that, during the landing roll, the right brake of the experimental amateur-built airplane failed. The airplane subsequently departed the runway and impacted an airport fence, resulting in substantial damage. The airplane was equipped with a castering nosewheel and steering was accomplished through differential brake pressure; therefore, the pilot did not have any other means to either stop the airplane or maintain directional control once it had slowed to a speed below which rudder authority was available. Postaccident examination revealed that the right brake disc had detached from the wheel hub. None of its attachment bolts were found, and the attachment bolts on the left brake disc were loose. The bolts and discs had holes to accommodate safety wires, but no safety wires were found on either assembly. The pilot had recently purchased the airplane following the completion of a condition inspection. Before the inspection, the airplane's builder had adjusted the landing gear, which necessitated removal of the brake discs. The builder could not recall using safety wires to secure the brake discs during the reinstallation, and the mechanic who performed the subsequent inspection also could not recall if safety wires were used.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.