# NTSB investigations: Master cylinder/brake valve

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN25LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA264.md): Alon A2 · Pipestone, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 20, 2025 · N6557Q · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the left brake to release due to corrosion and pitting of the caliper piston and bore, which resulted in a runway excursion.
- [NTSB WPR24LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA045.md): Cessna 170B · Cameron Park, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 27, 2023 · N170HT · Substantial damage
  > A failure of the right brake master cylinder piston due to a faulty return spring, which resulted in a seized right main landing gear brake and a runway excursion
- [NTSB WPR22LA324](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA324.md): Champion 7GCBA · Athol, ID · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 23, 2022 · N9512S · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the right brake due to a disconnected master cylinder piston rod, which led to the departure of the airplane from the runway surface. Contributing to the accident was the mechanic’s failure to adequately inspect the connection between the…
- [NTSB ERA22LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA132.md): Cessna 140 · New Bern, NC · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 11, 2022 · N2509N · Substantial damage
  > The loss of brake pressure on the left brake due to a failed O-ring seal.
- [NTSB ERA21LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA044.md): Cessna 305 · Ellenville, NY · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 14, 2020 · N5179G · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the right brake master cylinder lock seal spring washer.
- [NTSB GAA18CA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA022.md): Aviat A1 · Williamsport, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 22, 2017 · N337AM · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to verify that the parking brake was disengaged before landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.
- [NTSB WPR18LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA009.md): Barber Warren D Turbine Cubs P A 18 · Skull Valley, UT · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 15, 2017 · N181TJ · Substantial damage
  > The activation of the wheel brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over. The reason for the wheel brake activation could not be determined.
- [NTSB ERA17LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA290.md): Cessna 180 · Newport, NH · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 20, 2017 · N1585C · Substantial damage
  > A leak in the right brake slave cylinder, which led to no fluid in the reservoir and subsequent asymmetric braking.
- [NTSB GAA17CA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA212.md): Thomas Craig E Wittman W-10 · Stevensville, MT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 28, 2017 · N13XZ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to take off with a known master brake cylinder leak and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during landing.
- [NTSB ANC17LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA005.md): Cessna A185 · Ninilchik, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 12, 2016 · N4918Q · Substantial damage
  > A loss of brake system fluid due to leaks in the o-rings, which resulted in asymmetrical braking and a subsequent loss of directional control during the landing roll.
- [NTSB CEN16LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA274.md): Chance Vought F4U 5 · East Troy, WI · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 19, 2016 · N179PT · Substantial damage
  > A failure of the O-ring in the left brake master cylinder for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing.
- [NTSB GAA16CA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA368.md): Avions Mudry ET Cie CAP · Spring Branch, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 5, 2016 · N42415 · Substantial damage
  > The flight instructor's inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll as a result of the malfunctioning brake master cylinder.
- [NTSB ERA16LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA213.md): Cessna 310 · Apopka, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 10, 2016 · N8943Z · Substantial damage
  > The intermittent failure of the left brake master cylinder, which resulted in asymmetric braking and the subsequent loss of directional control during the landing roll.
- [NTSB WPR15LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA253.md): Beech C90 · Las Vegas, NV · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 28, 2015 · N959MC · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage
  > The jet flight crew's use of an inappropriate checklist to resolve a parking brake hydraulic system pressure anomaly, which resulted in the airplane rolling down a slight incline and colliding with a parked twin-engine turboprop airplane. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB GAA15CA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA129.md): Lancair ES - NO Series · Hampshire, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 19, 2015 · N800TR · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the brake master cylinder which resulted in a loss of brake pressure and the subsequent loss of directional control during the landing roll.
- [NTSB WPR14LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA040.md): Mikoyan Gurevich MIG 21 UM · Reno, NV · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 1, 2013 · N20739 · Substantial damage
  > The loss of brake control due to the fracture of the front brake pawl engagement spring, which resulted in a runway overrun.
- [NTSB ERA13LA409](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA409.md): Piper PA-31P · Doylestown, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 8, 2013 · N57JK · Substantial damage
  > A leaking parking brake valve, which allowed air to enter the left brake line and resulted in the eventual failure of the left wheel brake during the landing roll.
- [NTSB ANC13CA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA075.md): Cessna 185D · North Pole, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 8, 2013 · N75LE · Substantial damage
  > The malfunction of the right main wheel brake during taxi due to a faulty O-ring in the right brake pedal master cylinder.
- [NTSB WPR11LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA205.md): Bennett Midjet Mustang I · Ramona, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 10, 2011 · N611JB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to the overload separation of the left brake master cylinder from the left rudder pedal assembly.
- [NTSB WPR11FA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA158.md): Cessna 208B · Bakersfield, CA · Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 10, 2011 · N930FE · Substantial damage
  > The malfunction of a master brake cylinder, which resulted in a loss of braking action and subsequent loss of directional control and collision with three vehicles during taxi. Contributing to the accident was the inappropriate design and manufacture of the…
- [NTSB WPR09CA478](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA478.md): Cessna T210J · Albany, OR · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 14, 2009 · N899KM · Substantial damage
  > The malfunction of the left main wheel brake during landing due to inadequate hydraulic fluid in the left brake pedal master cylinder due to leakage.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '01023243'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023243/cases

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