# NTSB ERA24LA092: Textron 172, N321EP, New Smyrna Beach, FL, January 20, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 20, 2024, 15:43 local (20:43 UTC) - Place: New Smyrna Beach, FL · Airplane veered off of Taxiway D - Coordinates: 29.049145, -80.948108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0491&lon=-80.9481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 193688 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193688/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193688 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA092 ## Probable cause A failure of the right brake during taxi, which resulted in a taxiway excursion and collision with a tree. ## 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 · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Prior to start-up, the student pilot performed a preflight inspection while the flight instructor reviewed the airplane maintenance discrepancy sheet. The flight instructor noted that the airplane had recently been written up for inconsistent right brake pressure. Maintenance personnel resolved the discrepancy by tightening the pilot side brake pedal and returned the airplane to service. Everything appeared visually normal during the subsequent preflight inspection, and the student and instructor performed an engine runup with no braking problems noted. During the subsequent taxi to the runway, while attempting to negotiate a turn, the right brake was not effective despite both the student and the instructor applying brake pedal pressure. The airplane went off the taxiway and ultimately struck a tree resulting in substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. A review of photographs taken by an FAA inspector of the disassembled braking system components revealed that the right brake master cylinder o-ring appeared worn and possibly had a flat spot. It is possible that the wear/flat-spot of the o-ring could have allowed fluid to bypass it, which would have resulted in the inconsistent brake operation described by the pilots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N321EP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N321EP), registered now, S/N 172S12622, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172 (S) - Registry model: [Textron 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-172s) (registry code 2072449) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S12622 - Year built: 2021 - Airframe hours: 4005 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Epic Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Epic Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 6, 2024, 45 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: EVB, New Smyrna Beach Muni - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 23, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 701.7 total, 437.2 in this make and model, 606.3 as pilot in command, 166.7 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 33.6 total, 33.6 in this make and model, 31.6 in the last 90 days, 10.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 16 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.48 inHg - Observed at: EVB - METAR: KEVB 211547Z COR 04016G24KT 10SM FEW030 12/04 A3048 ## 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 20240120000399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240120000399A), Jan 20, 2024: Textron Aviation Inc 172S, New Smyrna Beac, FL, Substantial damage. This aircraft sustained substantial damage when the pilot lost control and veered off the taxiway while taxiing to runway 02 from new Smyrna airport(kevb). The… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193688. 10.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16693456&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA092%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16744778&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02_ERA24LA092%20FI%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor statement and conversation (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16745132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03_ERA24LA092%20ROC%20with%20CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 8.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16744929&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04_ERA24LA092%20Maintenance%20Entries_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 587 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16745021&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05_ERA24LA092%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� review of photographs (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 377 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16830905&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA092%20MOR%20for%20Brake%20Inspection-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record Textron aviation correspondence (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16744788&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06_ERA24LA092%20ROC%20with%20TXT%20Aviation_Redacted-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.