What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Safety recommendation for an airworthiness directive for the PA-22 series aircraft. On August 19, 2008, Piper PA-22, N9403D received substantial damage during landing at Greensburg-jeanette airport (5G8). Investigation found the brake cable p/n 40123-91 broken. This is the only source of brake for the PA-22 (one hand lever below the instrument panel for both the left and right brakes). This cable failure and loss of brakes caused the pilot to turn right resulting in substantial damage to aircraft, but avoiding a 200 foot drop off at the end of the runway. On March 7, 1962, Piper issued service letter no. 369 (attached) requiring the inspection of the above mentioned brake cable. This would indicate that over 40 years ago this failure was occurring. This memorandum will serve as my recommendation that your office consider an airworthiness directive that would require compliance with Piper. (-23 amendment) on August 20, 2008, inspectors privacy data omitted and privacy data omitted arrived at Greensburg jeanette airport (5G8) to investigate a reported aircraft accident, and found N9403D had been moved to a hanger. Further inspection revealed damage to the left wing, the propeller, and the nose gear had collapsed. On August 19, 2008, Piper PA-22, N9403D received substantial damage during landing at Greensburg-jeanette airport (5G8). Investigation found the brake cable p/n 40123-91 broken. This is the only source of brake for the PA-22 (one hand lever below the instrument panel for both the left and right brakes). This cable failure and loss of brakes caused the pilot to turn right resulting in substantial damage to aircraft, but avoiding a 200 foot drop off at the end of the runway. A review of the aircraft maintenance records was satisfactory.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) SAFETY RECOMMENDATION FOR AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE FOR THE PA-22 SERIES AIRCRAFT. ON AUGUST 19, 2008, PIPER PA-22, N9403D RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING LANDING AT GREENSBURG-JEANETTE AIRPORT (5G8). INVESTIGATION FOUND THE BRAKE CABLE P/N 40123-91 BROKEN. THIS IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF BRAKE FOR THE PA-22 (ONE HAND LEVER BELOW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKES). THIS CABLE FAILURE AND LOSS OF BRAKES CAUSED THE PILOT TO TURN RIGHT RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT, BUT AVOIDING A 200 FOOT DROP OFF AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. ON MARCH 7, 1962, PIPER ISSUED SERVICE LETTER NO. 369 (ATTACHED) REQUIRING THE INSPECTION OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED BRAKE CABLE. THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT OVER 40 YEARS AGO THIS FAILURE WAS OCCURRING. THIS MEMORANDUM WILL SERVE AS MY RECOMMENDATION THAT YOUR OFFICE CONSIDER AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE THAT WOULD REQUIRE COMPLIANCE WITH PIPER. (-23 AMENDMENT) ON AUGUST 20, 2008, INSPECTORS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ARRIVED AT GREENSBURG JEANETTE AIRPORT (5G8) TO INVESTIGATE A REPORTED AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT, AND FOUND N9403D HAD BEEN MOVED TO A HANGER. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, THE PROPELLER, AND THE NOSE GEAR HAD COLLAPSED. ON AUGUST 19, 2008, PIPER PA-22, N9403D RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING LANDING AT GREENSBURG-JEANETTE AIRPORT (5G8). INVESTIGATION FOUND THE BRAKE CABLE P/N 40123-91 BROKEN. THIS IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF BRAKE FOR THE PA-22 (ONE HAND LEVER BELOW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKES). THIS CABLE FAILURE AND LOSS OF BRAKES CAUSED THE PILOT TO TURN RIGHT RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT, BUT AVOIDING A 200 FOOT DROP OFF AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS WAS SATISFACTORY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.