Pilot Debrief

LIBERTY AEROSPACE INCORPORATED LIBERTY XL near Orlando, FL — 2016-02-21

Final reportERA16LA113
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Date
2016-02-21
Location
Orlando, FL, USA
Airport
MCO
Aircraft
LIBERTY AEROSPACE INCORPORATED LIBERTY XL
Registration
N568XL
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

A failure of the right brake for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue the flight after experiencing a braking anomaly due to his perceived need for an expedited departure, his wish to avoid a flight delay, and his perceived lack of suitable maintenance facilities for timely troubleshooting of the brake system.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that, while taxiing for takeoff, he felt "softness" in the brakes; however, they operated satisfactorily when he applied them to test their operation. The flight was cleared for takeoff, and the pilot thought that he had to expedite the takeoff due to traffic on final approach. After entering the runway at an angle and with a crosswind from the right, the right brake failed, causing the airplane to veer to the left. With runway lights and signs ahead, the pilot stopped braking, added power, and cleared the signs, then reduced power and collided with a berm. The airplane was equipped with a castering nosewheel, and ground steering was accomplished using differential braking. A discrepancy was noted with the o-ring of the right brake caliper during postaccident operational testing, which could correlate to the pilot's observation of "softness" in the brakes; however, the effect of the anomaly on brake operation could not be determined because the right brake was not functionally tested before the system was opened to the atmosphere. The pilot reported that factors contributing to the accident included the pressure he felt to expedite the takeoff given the airport traffic, his desire to return home quickly, and a perceived lack of maintenance facilities to troubleshoot the brake issue given that it was a weekend evening.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have delayed takeoff due to brake issues noted before entering the runway.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 11 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents11

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