# NTSB ERA21LA044: Cessna 305, N5179G, Ellenville, NY, November 14, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 14, 2020, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Ellenville, NY
- Coordinates: 41.727871, -74.377376 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7279&lon=-74.3774&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102301
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102301/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102301
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA044

## Probable cause

The failure of the right brake master cylinder lock seal spring washer.

## 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 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: master cylinder/brake valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023243): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023243/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023243/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: [Cessna 305A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was performing touch-and-go landings. During the third landing, the pilot noticed that right wheel began to “drag.” During the next landing, the airplane veered to the right side of the runway. The tail of the airplane then lifted and the airplane nosed over. The fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. After exiting the airplane, the pilot attempted to rotate the right wheel assembly, and it would not rotate. After about an hour the wheel assembly freed up and was able to rotate. A postaccident examination of the brake system revealed that the brake master cylinder lock seal spring had broken into three pieces. Given this information, it is likely that the broken lock seal spring washer prevented the master cylinder from releasing pressure from the caliper. This malfunction resulted in the right brake caliper staying engaged after the pilot released the brakes.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5179G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5179G), registered now, S/N 22272 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 305 (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22272
- Year built: 1951
- Airframe hours: 7735
- Engines: Continental O-470-11B 213 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2020, 59 hours before
- Departed: N89, Ellenville, NY
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: N89, Joseph Y Resnick Airport, runway 22, 3,838 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 986 total, 383 in this make and model, 898 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: MGJ, 13 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 20201114014349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201114014349A), Nov 14, 2020: Cessna 305A, Ellenville, NY, Substantial damage. Pilot departed runway 22, prior to rotation pilot indicated that the right brake appeared to be dragging. Committed to the departure the pilot rotated and…

## Other investigations on N5179G (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC83LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83LA234), Sep 4, 1983: Cessna 305A (N5179G), Seaside Heights, NJ, substantial damage

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102301. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11676476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_1%20Form%20Filled%20%26%20Signed%20by%20Jonathan%20Elie%2011.20.2020_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11676387&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20JE%20correspondence%20N5179G-Rel.pdf
- Correspondence with mechanic (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11676486&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Jim%20Todd%20mechanic%20correspondence%20N5179G-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11698646&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N5179G%20Recent%20Maintenance_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Brake system diagram (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11676909&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Brake%20system%20N5179G-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 621 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11676953&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20N5179G-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.

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