DFW06CA178

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 180 · Downsville, TX · July 7, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 7, 2006, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
Place
Downsville, TX
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N9260CCessna 180
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 31, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Fort Worth, Texas
FAA report
20060707014309A
Case key
64073

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The malfunction in the braking system which caused the parking brake to engage and lock the right main wheel resulting in a loss of directional control.

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.

Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionLanding - roll
Landing gear,normal brake system - malfunctionCause
Landing gear,gear locking mechanism - lockedCause
Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not possiblePilot in commandCause

Analysis

The 2,800-hour private pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped single-engine airplane while landing to the northwest on the 1,900-foot long private grass airstrip. The pilot reported that upon landing, the right main landing gear brake locked and would not release. The airplane then turned to the right and the left landing gear collapsed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident, examined the airplane and found the right main landing gear wheel and brake assembly was intact and the brake pads were "in a released state, and not binding to the brake disk." During maintenance repairs to the airplane, an airframe and powerplant mechanic discovered that when he pushed on the main toe-brake, the parking brake mechanism would lock the right main landing gear brake. He reported that this was a common problem for this make/model airplane. The pilot reported that at the time of the mishap, the winds were from 130 degrees at 10 knots. The winds at the nearest weather reporting facility, located 5 miles north of the accident site were reporting the wind from 040 degrees at 8 knots at the time of the accident.

Factual narrative

The 2,800-hour private pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped single-engine airplane while landing to the northwest on 1,900-foot long private grass airstrip. The pilot reported that upon landing, the right main landing gear brake locked and would not release. The airplane then turned to the right and the left landing gear collapsed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident, examined the airplane and found the right main landing gear wheel and brake assembly was intact and the brake pads were "in a released state, and not binding to the brake disk." During maintenance repairs to the airplane, an airframe and powerplant mechanic discovered that when he pushed on the main toe-brake, the parking brake mechanism would lock the right main landing gear brake. He reported that this was a common problem for this make/model airplane. The pilot reported that at the time of the mishap, the winds were from 130 degrees at 10 knots. The winds at the nearest weather reporting facility, located 5 miles north of the accident site were reporting the wind from 040 degrees at 8 knots at the time of the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N9260C
Reported as
Cessna 180
Category
Airplane
Serial number
31359
Airframe hours
4,001.4
Engine
Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Sam A. Corpora
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 1, 2006
Departed
Downsville, TX
Destination
Downsville, TX
Airport
N/A · Private, runway UNK, 1,900 × ft, grass/turf

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, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 1, 2006
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,800 total · 770 in this make and model · 2,720 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
40° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
91 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
ACT, 5 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.

Other investigations on N9260C · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.