Caldwell Industrial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Caldwell, Idaho 83605
Friday, April 17, 2009 12:40 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during a routine test flight, he felt an abnormal vibration and decided to divert to a nearby airport. After noting the wind conditions, the pilot entered the airport traffic pattern and proceeded to execute a wheel landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. As the tailwheel settled onto the runway, the airplane immediately veered to the right. Despite the pilot's control and brake inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right and exited the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest in a nose-low attitude adjacent to the runway surface. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left and right top and bottom wing assemblies and fuselage were structurally damaged. Flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane to all flight controls. Movement of the tailwheel by hand revealed that it locked into its normal turning radius and subsequently broke free with little pressure. No anomalies could be found with the airframe; however, examination of the runway revealed a black rubber transfer mark with a width corresponding to the width of the airplane's tailwheel. The mark was not linear, but had a zigzag shape consistent with the tailwheel shimmying.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of control during the landing roll for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/17/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1240
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Caldwell
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83605
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 433830N
Event Location Longitude 1163808W
Event Location Airport Caldwell Industrial Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EUL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2432
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1235 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID EUL
Elevation of weather observation facility 2432
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25742
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 21 2009 3:24PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N375CB
NTSB Number WPR09LA201
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BRINKER / GARNER
Aircraft Model BI-PLANE
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number U R 1
Certified Max Gross Weight 1000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 21 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRINKER MICHAEL W
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MELBA
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83641-4205
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Kurt G Becker
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Melba
Operator State ID
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 83641
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Flight Test
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ID40
Departure City Marsing
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code ID40
Destination City Caldwell
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 21 2009 3:24PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 5500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --