NTSB Factual Report

On November 22, 2017, about 1030 central standard time, a Phil J Ruttan Pietenpol Air Camper airplane, N502R, nosed over on the runway after landing at De Kalb Taylor Municipal Airport, (DKB), De Kalb, Illinois. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Hartford Municipal Airport (HXF), Hartford, Wisconsin, about 0845 and was en route to Terre Haute International Airport (HUF), Terre Haute, Indiana.

The pilot reported that he was hired to deliver the airplane to its new owner. The seller warned him of "sensitive brakes" and that the right brake was "mushy", but they were still effective. The pilot stated that this was his first flight in this airplane type. Before departure he taxied the airplane to become familiar with the controls and brakes and noticed no anomalies. He planned to fly to HUF with en route fuel stops. On approach to the first fuel stop airport, DKB, the wind sock was reportedly indicated light wind from the north. The pilot stated that he made a 3-point landing with the engine at idle power. The airplane continued down the runway 300 to 400 ft as he held the control stick back. The airplane veered left about 30° so the pilot attempted to counteract the unexpected movement with right rudder input; the airplane did not respond. The airplane was about 10 ft from the runway edge when it finally responded to the right rudder input and began to travel parallel to the runway centerline. The pilot reported that about 20 to 30 ft later that "it was as if someone slammed on the brakes" and the airplane nosed over. He later stated that the right brake had undergone recent maintenance.

The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the runway and found tire marks that corresponded with the accident sequence and led to the accident airplane. The tire marks began near the center of the runway, veered to the left, veered back to the right, and then ended where the airplane had nosed over. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the wing struts. The inspector performed a postaccident functional test of the brakes with no anomalies noted.

The maintenance records revealed that on October 2, 2017, an annual inspection was completed at a tachometer time of 134 hours. On November 19, 2017, at a tachometer time of 154 hours, the right brake was serviced with 5606 hydraulic fluid.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s excessive rudder and brake applications during landing, which caused the airplane to nose over.