- Date
- April 14, 2001, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Grain Valley, MO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N3021ZPiper PA-22-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20010414011639A
- Case key
- 52140
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 normal brake system was inoperative due to undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident was the ditch that the airplane encountered.
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
The airplane collided with the terrain and nosed over following a loss of brake pressure while taxiing for takeoff. He reported that the brakes did not work when he applied them to slow the airplane in order to turn around for takeoff after back taxiing on the runway. The airplane traveled off the side of the runway and continued downhill into a ditch where it rolled onto the right wing. The pilot stated that he applied the parking brake when the airplane was being fueled and the brakes worked properly at that time and when he performed the engine run-up. No brake fluid was found on the hangar floor where the airplane was kept, nor was there any found along the taxi route used by the airplane. The master brake cylinder was disassembled and appeared to be in working order with no leaks. The airplane was placarded in accordance with Airworthiness Directive 85-02-05 R1. The placard states, "NO BRAKING WILL OCCUR IF AIRCRAFT BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHILE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE IS PULLED AND HELD."
Factual narrative
On April 14, 2001, at 0930 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N3021Z, collided with the terrain and nosed over following a loss of brake pressure while taxing for takeoff at the East Kansas City Airport, Grain Valley, Missouri. The private pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported he was back-taxiing on runway 27 when the accident occurred. He reported that the brakes did not work when he applied them to slow the airplane in order to turn around for takeoff. The airplane traveled off the side of the runway and continued downhill into a ditch where it rolled onto the right wing.
The pilot stated that he applied the parking brake when the airplane was being fueled and the brakes worked properly at that time. In addition, he reported the brakes functioned normally when he performed the engine run-up. Inspection revealed that there was no brake fluid found on the hangar floor where the airplane was kept, nor was there any found along the taxi route used by the airplane.
An Airworthiness Inspector from the Kansas City, Missouri, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards District Office inspected the airplane after the accident. The inspector reported that he disassembled the master brake cylinder and appeared to be in working order with no leaks. He reported that he was unable to determine any mechanical reason as to why the brakes would not have functioned.
The airplane was placarded in accordance with Airworthiness Directive 85-02-05 R1. The placard states, "NO BRAKING WILL OCCUR IF AIRCRAFT BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHILE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE IS PULLED AND HELD."
The FAA inspector stated that it is possible for the brake pressure to bleed off enough for the airplane to operate with the parking brake applied.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3021Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-6974
- Airframe hours
- 2,125
- Engine
- Lycoming o-320-a2b, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Stephen W. Marsh
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Grain Valley, MO
- Airport
- 3GV · East Kansas City, runway 09, 4,500 × 45 ft, asphalt
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
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- May 10, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,596 total · 1,516 in this make and model · 1,496 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- MKC, 23 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.