- Date
- January 11, 2004, 14:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place
- Allendale, SC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N800SLAero Commander 500
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 28, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Columbia FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040111000649A
- Case key
- 58598
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 failure of the hydraulic brake system accumulator due to a ruptured diaphragm. A factor was the ditch.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot, while on takeoff roll the airplane began to "track right", differential braking input was applied to line up the airplane with the runway center line. When brakes were applied to stop the airplane, they failed and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway into a ditch. Examination of the wheel brakes revealed that the hydraulic pucks were leaking, and the brake disc and linings were worn. Examination of the accumulator revealed the diaphragm was ruptured and the system would not maintain pressure. No other flight control or mechanical problems were reported by the pilot.
Factual narrative
On January 11, 2004, at 1410 eastern standard time, an Aero Commander 500, N800SL, registered to and operated by an airline transport pilot, collided with a ditch during an attempted takeoff at Allendale County Airport, Allendale, South Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger were uninjured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was originating from Allendale County Airport, Allendale, South Carolina, on January 11, 2004 at 1400.
According to the pilot, while on takeoff roll the airplane began to "track right", differential braking input was applied to line up the airplane with the runway center line. The pilot noticed that the brake pedal felt "soft" and aborted the takeoff. When brakes were applied to stop the airplane, they failed and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway into a ditch.
Examination of the airplane revealed the outboard right wing was bent aft and curled upwards. The fuselage was buckled in the wing root area of left and right wing. No mechanical or flight control problems were reported by the pilot. Examination of the wheel brakes revealed that the hydraulic pucks were leaking, and the brake disc and linings were worn. Examination of the accumulator revealed the diaphragm was ruptured and the system would not maintain pressure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N800SL
- Reported as
- Aero Commander 500
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 740
- Airframe hours
- 2,750
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James H Plulee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2003 · 100 hours before
- Departed
- 88J · Allendale, SC
- Destination
- 88J · Allendale, SC
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 88J · Allendale County, runway 35, 5,000 × 100 ft, concrete
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
- 31
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- September 5, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,263 total · 78 in this make and model · 2,188 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.45 inHg
- Observed at
- KOGB, 34 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.