- Date
- August 8, 2013, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- North Pole, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N75LECessna 185D
- Defining event
- Taxi-into takeoff position: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 21, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20130808015729A
- Case key
- 87719
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The malfunction of the right main wheel brake during taxi due to a faulty O-ring in the right brake pedal master cylinder.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot had completed his before takeoff checks, and was taxiing the tailwheel-equipped airplane onto the runway for departure. He added power and initiated a left turn to align the airplane with the runway, while attempting to stop the turn the right brake failed and the airplane ground looped striking the right wing on the gravel runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. An examination of the right brake master cylinder revealed that the right brake would not hold pressure and the O-ring within the master cylinder had dried out allowing brake fluid to leak past.
Factual narrative
The pilot had completed his before takeoff checks, and was taxiing the tailwheel-equipped airplane onto the runway for departure. He added power and initiated a left turn to align the airplane with the runway, while attempting to stop the turn the right brake failed and the airplane ground looped striking the right wing on the gravel runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. An examination of the right brake master cylinder revealed that the right brake would not hold pressure and the O-ring within the master cylinder had dried out allowing brake fluid to leak past.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N75LE
- Reported as
- Cessna 185D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-0870
- Airframe hours
- 2,444
- Engine
- Cont Motor I0-520 SERIES, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 15, 2013
- Departed
- 95Z · North Pole, AK
- Destination
- 95Z · North Pole, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 95Z · Bradley Sky-Ranch, runway 15, 4,100 × 60 ft, gravel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 5, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,183 total · 150 in this make and model · 5,183 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.64 inHg
- Observed at
- PAFA, 12 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 590 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N75LE · 5
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.