Koth Larry JABIRU CALYPSO N344MK

Summary

On 30 December 2011 at about 17:00 local time, a Koth Larry JABIRU CALYPSO registered N344MK, operated by Lafratta Paul M, was involved in an accident near Mansfield, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 December 2011 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Mansfield, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Mansfield Municipal Airport (1B9)

Coordinates

41.9931, -71.1911

Aircraft

Koth Larry JABIRU CALYPSO

Registration

N344MK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Lafratta Paul M

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mansfield → Mansfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA129

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot did not maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s not closing the throttle upon landing and his improper adjustment of the airplane’s brakes.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner was practicing takeoffs and landings in the recently certificated experimental amateur-built airplane. After completing an adjustment of the left wing to control a rolling tendency, as well as multiple adjustments to the hand-operated brakes, the pilot performed a short flight over the runway and landed about 400 feet beyond the point of takeoff. The airplane touched down about 55 knots airspeed, and the pilot applied the brakes. The airplane veered, did not slow, and departed the left side of the runway. The airplane continued about 900 feet after touchdown before it collided with terrain and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. After the accident, the pilot could not recall if he had reduced the throttle upon landing. Examination of the cockpit revealed that the flight controls, engine controls, and the hand-operated brake control were of a nonstandard configuration, and all had matching red handles. It was also noted that application of the brakes required the pilot to release the control stick. Examination of the braking system revealed binding of the left brake caliper and disk, missing washers from the right brake caliper, distortion of the left and right inner lining plates over the piston of each brake assembly, and compression of the return springs. Other than the known wing and brake anomalies, the pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.