# NTSB CHI03LA011: Piper PA-32-300, N56655, Plymouth, MI, October 20, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 20, 2002, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Plymouth, MI - Coordinates: 42.349998, -83.458335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3500&lon=-83.4583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO-Detroit, Michigan - NTSB case key (mKey): 55969 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55969/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA011 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining directional control during landing and the inoperative right main landing gear brake. Contributing factors were the failed brake master cylinder seal, resulting in a hydraulic leak, the inadequate preflight by the pilot, the fuel fire, and the pilot intentionally operating the airplane with a known brake system problem. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - fluid,hydraulic - leak (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - hydraulic system,seal - failure (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,normal brake system - inoperative (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - runway light (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - fire (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane received substantial damage when it struck a visual approach slope indicator light after a loss of control during landing. A fire subsequently erupted and was extinguished by the pilot and airport personnel. The pilot reported that during the landing his right brake was not working. He stated that he attempted to stop using the left brake and compensating with rudder. The aircraft veered to the right, departed the runway, and struck a visual approach slope indicator light. The pilot stated he had maintenance performed on the brakes twice in the previous 2 months, at which time the mechanic bled the lines and added fluid. He stated that he had flown the airplane the day before with no problems. Subsequent to the accident, a seal in the brake master cylinder was found defective. ## Factual narrative On October 20, 2002, about 1120 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N56655, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it went off the right side of the runway and struck a part of the visual approach slope indicator (VASI) system. The airplane was landing on runway 36 (2,556 feet by 75 feet, asphalt), at the Canton-Plymouth Mettetal Airport (1D2), Plymouth, Michigan. when the accident occurred. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Paul C. Miller - Sparta Airport (8D4), Sparta, Michigan, at 1030. The pilot reported that upon landing on runway 36, the winds were 270 at 8 knots. He stated that upon touching down he realized he was moving a little fast; the airplane didn't settle and seemed to float. He applied braking to slow down but the right brake was not working. The pilot attempted to slow the airplane by using left braking and right rudder. The pilot reported that the aircraft then veered to the right (east side) and went off the runway. The pilot noted that he attempted to bring the airplane back onto the runway. The aircraft subsequently struck the VASI system with the left wing and the airplane caught fire. The pilot and his passenger safely exited the aircraft and the fire was put out by the pilot and airport staff. The pilot made a flight the day prior to the accident and reported that the brakes were working fine. The pilot stated "Had I known the brake fluid was low again, and that I did not have complete brake function, I wouldn't have made the flight." He reported that he had maintenance performed on the brakes on August 8th and September 25th of 2003, at which time the mechanic bled the lines and added fluid. The pilot reported that, subsequent to the accident, a seal within the brake master cylinder was found to be defective. He reported that this allowed the fluid level to be low and air to enter the brake lines. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56655](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56655), registered now, S/N 32-7440012, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7440012 - Airframe hours: 5049.12 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540KIA5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David D. Grear - Registered owner: David Dean Grear - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2003, 137.32 hours before - Departed: 8D4, Sparta, MI - Destination: 1D2, Plymouth, MI - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 1D2, Canton - Plymouth - Mettetal, runway 36, 2,556 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 13, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 277 total, 156 in this make and model, 211 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: DTW, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20021020038309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021020038309A), Oct 20, 2002: Piper PA32300, Plymouth, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed long on runway with slight cross wind 4 to 6 KTS. Aircraft floated and drifted off runway to right striking vassie control panel with left… 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.