# NTSB ANC95LA026: Piper PA-17, N4492H, Dutch Harbor, AK, January 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 6, 1995, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Dutch Harbor, AK - Coordinates: 53.88948, -166.539871 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=53.8895&lon=-166.5399&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2623 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2623/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA026 ## Probable cause THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE RIGHT BRAKE DUE TO A LEAKY BRAKE LINE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,normal brake system - failure,partial (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis UPON LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT RUDDER AND LEFT BRAKE AND CORRECTED THE TURN. THE AIRPLANE THEN BEGAN TO TURN LEFT AND THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT BRAKE AND RUDDER. THE RIGHT BRAKE DID NOT RESPOND AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE RUNWAY. A PRESSURE CHECK AND EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT BRAKE SYSTEM SHOWED A LEAK FROM AN ORIGINAL PIPER MANUFACTURED BRAKE LINE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER. ## Factual narrative On January 6, 1995, at 1815 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-17 airplane, N4492H, registered to Ross Nixon and operated by the pilot, ground looped during landing at Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Dutch Harbor for a local flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private certificated pilot and his passenger were not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. According to the pilot, during the landing roll the airplane began to veer gently to the right and he corrected by applying left rudder. The airplane then began to veer to the left and he applied right rudder. When the airplane did not respond, he applied right brake. The application of the right brake had no effect on the ground track of the airplane. The airplane continued to turn to the left and the right main gear collapsed. The right wing dragged the ground. A pressure check and examination of the brake system showed that the brake line leading to the master cylinder was leaking. The brake line was an original Piper manufactured brake line. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4492H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4492H), registered now, S/N 15-280 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-17 - Registry model: [Piper PA-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-15) (registry code 7101502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15-280 - Airframe hours: 2830 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C85-8 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William R. Coon - Registered owner: Ross Nixon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 1994, 5 hours before - Departed: DUT - Airport: DUT, Dutch Harbor, runway 30, 3,900 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 187 total, 2 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950106044109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950106044109A), Jan 6, 1995: Piper PA15, Unalaska, AK, Substantial damage. Ground looped on landing roll. Right main gear collapsed. Wing dragged on ground. Low time and a leaky brake factor ## Other investigations on N4492H (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC04LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA033), Feb 29, 2004: Piper PA-15 (N4492H), Big Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight loss of control for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing and in-flight collision with trees. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.