Accident Overview
On March 11, 2018, at about 1545 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Navajo HKS weight-shift-control aircraft, registration N1762C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, Washington. The sport pilot sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Flight Details
According to the pilot, the accident occurred during landing. Shortly after the aircraft touched down on the main landing gear, the pilot lowered the nose wheel and applied the brakes. The aircraft then skidded to the right and came to rest on its right side, facing opposite the direction of landing.
An onboard camera recording revealed that the aircraft touched down left of the runway centerline, approximately 2,800 feet along the 3,431-foot-long runway. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft veered to the right and nosed over on the right side of the runway. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the wing and its supporting structure.
Aircraft Information
The ground steering system consisted of left and right foot pegs attached to each side of the nose landing gear strut. Both main landing gear were equipped with hydraulic disc brakes, which operated simultaneously via a foot-controlled lever located above the left foot steering peg.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, the pilot examined the brakes and reported that the right wheel brake "had more stopping power" than the left wheel brake. He also stated that his long landing resulted in applying heavier braking than usual.