Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-25-235 near Salisbury, MO — 2013-06-28

Final reportCEN13LA379
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Date
2013-06-28
Location
Salisbury, MO, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-25-235
Registration
N4812Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The airplane's reduced braking efficiency and the pilot's subsequent delayed decision to go around, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

NTSB narrative

The pilot landed the tailwheel-equipped airplane with a left crosswind on a dirt road. As the airplane slowed down, he applied the right rudder and brake. The pilot said the right brake was soft, and he tried to pump it several times before he decided to go around. After applying power, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane veered off of the road and into a ditch. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that, when the right rudder pedal was in the neutral position and the brake was applied, it held pressure. However, when full right rudder and brake were applied, the brake contacted the hopper, which limited the brake's full travel. It could not be determined if the amount of pressure applied to the brake in this condition was enough to provide adequate braking power. However, even with the limitations of the brake with the rudder pedal fully extended, the pilot had made several uneventful landings before the accident and reported no problems with the brakes. He said that the accident could have been prevented if he had decided to go around sooner.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have decided to go around sooner to prevent loss of control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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