ERA13LA418

The pilot reported that, following a normal left-crosswind landing, the airplane veered left. Further right rudder application resulted in the airplane continuing to veer left until it exited the edge of the runway and nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the brake cable was not properly adjusted and that, as a result, the application of the right rudder pedal engaged the left brake. The airplane's last annual inspection occurred about 2 months before the accident, and, during this inspection, maintenance personnel were required to check the brakes for proper adjustment. It is likely that if maintenance personnel had adequately conducted the annual inspection they could have recognized the incorrectly adjusted brakes. No other anomalies or mechanical malfunctions were found that would have precluded normal operation.

On September 7, 2013, about 1110 eastern daylight time, a Fleet 7, N9433, was substantially damaged following a runway excursion after landing at Louisa County Airport/Freeman Field (LKU), Louisa, Virginia. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which originated from Warrenton-Fauquier Airport (HMY), Warrenton, Virginia. The pilot reported that following a normal crosswind landing on runway 27, the airplane began to veer to the left. Following an application of right rudder, the airplane continued to the left and departed the left side of the runway. The airplane continued into the grass, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the airplane. The examination revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. Further examination of the rudder revealed that during the full application of the right rudder the left brake would apply. Photographs provided by the FAA inspector revealed rubber tire marks on the runway, veering to the left, looking towards the direction of travel, and ceasing at the edge of the runway. The rubber tire marks coincided with the tire tracks in the grass which led to the accident airplane. According to airplane maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was completed on June 29, 2013 at a recorded tachometer time of 3739.7 hours. According to the FAA inspector, the tachometer at the time of the accident indicated about 3742 hours. According to CFR Part 43 Appendix D "Scope and Detail of Items (as Applicable to the Particular Aircraft) to be Included in Annual and 100-Hour Inspections," states in part "Each person performing an annual or 100-hour inspection shall inspect (where applicable) the following components of the landing gear group: (9) Brakes – for improper adjustment." At the time of the accident, the airplane had been flown about 2 hours since this inspection. The wind at the time of the accident was 200 degrees at 6 knots.