# NTSB ERA13LA409: Piper PA-31P, N57JK, Doylestown, PA, September 8, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 8, 2013, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Doylestown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.333057, -75.122222 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3331&lon=-75.1222&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 3, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88015
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA409
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88015/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88015
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA409

## Probable cause

A leaking parking brake valve, which allowed air to enter the left brake line and resulted in the eventual failure of the left wheel brake during the landing roll.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: master cylinder/brake valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023243): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023243/cases.md?model=7103120), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023243/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103120), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7103120), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-31P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103120), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-31P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103120), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Following a normal landing, the pilot felt no wheel braking action on the left wheel, and the brake pedal went to the floor. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control; however, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and traveled into the grass. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to a stop, sustaining structural damage to the left wing spar. Postaccident examination confirmed that the left brake was inoperative and revealed a small hydraulic fluid leak at the shaft of the parking brake valve in the pressurized section of the cabin. Air likely entered the brake line at the area of the leak while the cabin was pressurized, rendering the left brake inoperative.

## Factual narrative

On September 08, 2013, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31P airplane, N57JK, was substantially damaged following a runway excursion during landing at Doylestown, Pennsylvania (DYL). The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The pilot reported that, following a normal landing on runway 5, the left brake pedal went to the floor and there was no braking action on the left side. He tried pumping the brakes to regain left braking action, but was unsuccessful. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, into the grass. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to a stop. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and inspected the airplane. He confirmed substantial damage to the left wing spar. The left brake was not operational when he inspected the airplane. Further examination of the wheel brake system revealed a leak at the shaft for the parking brake valve. He reported that this condition allowed air to enter the brake system in between the master cylinder and wheel cylinder when the aircraft was pressurized.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57JK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57JK-2018-03-05), registration cancelled 2018-03-05, S/N 31P-7530020, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31P
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31p) (registry code 7103120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TIGO-541SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tigo-541ser) (registry code 41539, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31P-7530020
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 3952
- Engines: LYCOMING TIGO-541SER 400 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TIGO-541SER 400 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2012, 35 hours before
- Departed: CGE, Cambridge, MA
- Destination: DYL, Doylestown, PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DYL, Doylestown Airport, runway 05, 3,004 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,612 total, 1,054 in this make and model, 1,424 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: DYL

## 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 20130908021969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130908021969A), Sep 8, 2013: Piper PA-31P, Doylestown, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot made a normal landing on runway 5 at Doylestown Airport. (Dyl). After touchdown pilot applied brakes. Left brake pedal went to floor. Aircraft…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88015. 8.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401503&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Correspondence with FAA (item 3, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20FAA-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Wreckage, View from Front (FAA Digital Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Wreckage,%20View%20from%20Front%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Right Wing Structural Damage (FAA Digital Photo) (item 5, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401199&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Right%20Wing%20Structural%20Damage%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF

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.

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