Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 340A near Fullerton, CA — 2011-06-01

Final reportWPR11LA363
Sign in to save
Date
2011-06-01
Location
Fullerton, CA, USA
Airport
FUL
Aircraft
CESSNA 340A
Registration
N340BG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Taxi

Probable cause

The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during landing due to the left brake's degraded performance due to oil contamination, which resulted from the fatigue failure of an oil line component.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, at the conclusion of a flight, he made a normal landing and commenced a turn off the runway. While negotiating the turn toward a taxiway, the left brake ceased to properly function, and the airplane rolled into the soft dirt terrain adjacent to the taxiway. The subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that a weld had fractured in fatigue in the left engine's oil return line, which was located near the left main landing gear wheel assembly. The wheel and brake assembly were covered in oil. The oil significantly inhibited the brake's functionality and effectively reduced the braking capability to zero, which resulted in the pilot's loss of directional control.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have inspected brakes before taxiing after maintenance.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

Related mishaps