# NTSB ERA19LA055: Cessna 172, N7081Q, North Myrtle Beach, SC, November 23, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 23, 2018, 11:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: North Myrtle Beach, SC - Coordinates: 33.811668, -78.723892 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8117&lon=-78.7239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98689 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98689/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98689 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA055 ## Probable cause The failure of the right brake while taxiing after landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and collision with a parked airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Cessna 172L, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was taxiing after landing when he felt a wind gust push the tail to the right and he could not correct with full right rudder. He then applied right brake, but the right brake failed. He applied both brakes to stop, but the left turn became exaggerated, and he pulled the mixture control to stop the engine. The airplane subsequently impacted another airplane parked on the ramp. Postaccident examination of the right brake by the operator revealed damage to an O-ring or packing that allowed brake fluid to leak past the piston, rendering the right brake inoperative. The brake linings of both brakes were replaced about 389 flight hours before the accident. ## Factual narrative On November 23, 2018, about 1105 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172L, N7081Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that there were no discrepancies with the brakes at the departure airport; however, while taxiing after landing at the destination airport, he felt a wind gust push the tail to the right, which he could not correct with full right rudder. He applied right brake, and, at that time, the right brake failed. He then applied both brakes to stop, but the left turn became exaggerated. He released the left brake and pulled the mixture control to stop the engine, but, while rolling about 1 to 2 mph, the airplane impacted a parked airplane. The owner/operator of the airplane, an airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization, examined the airplane the same day and reported seeing, "no fluid or very little fluid on the ground either under the brake or along it's [sic] path…." He removed the right brake, and no fluid drained from the separated brake line. Further inspection of the brake revealed that one lining was worn but within limits, while the other brake lining was worn to the limit. Before removing the piston from the cylinder assembly, he noted fluid on the outside of the cylinder caused by an O-ring or packing that had deteriorated. The maintenance records reflected that the brake linings of both brakes were most recently replaced on June 18, 2018. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accrued about 389 hours since the brake lining replacement. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7081Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7081Q-2021-12-04), registration cancelled 2021-12-04, S/N 17260381, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17260381 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 10672.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Carolina Aviation Of Aiken LLC - Registered owner: Carolina Aviation Of Aiken LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 9, 2018, 31 hours before - Departed: AIK, Aiken, SC - Destination: CRE, North Myrtle Beach, SC - Airport: CRE, Grand Strand Airport - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 20, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,855 total, 1,048 in this make and model, 2,787 as pilot in command, 3.7 in the last 90 days, 2.7 in the last 30 days, 1.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 13 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: CRE ## 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 20181123023801A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181123023801A), Nov 23, 2018: Cessna C172, Myrtle Beach, SC, Substantial damage. North Myrtle Beach, SC (cre): N7081Q, C172, after landing and taxiing to the north ramp, the aircraft brakes failed causing it to collide with N984BC, BE58,… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98689. 9.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 received from pilot (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9385604&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Fm%20Plt%20Recd%2012%2028%202018_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 received from operator (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9385369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20N7081Q%20Fm%20Operator%20Recd%2012%2021%202018_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance log excerpts (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9386616&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Last%20100%20Hour%20Inspection%20entry_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement from mechanic regarding brake examination (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9386241&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statement%20Fm%20Mechanic%20Regarding%20Brake%20Finding_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of NTSB conversation (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9387622&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 6 pages, 6 photos, 734 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9389153&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Annotated wreckage diagram (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 472 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9387428&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Annotated%20Map%20or%20Diagram-Rel.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. --- 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.