FTW98LA337

During the landing roll, the agricultural airplane started to turn toward the left side of the runway. The pilot applied right rudder followed by right brake; however, the right brake application had no effect. A mechanic and an FAA inspector found 'no abnormalities' with the brake system and 'normal brake pressure.' Maintenance records did not reveal any previous discrepancies with the brake system. Total aircraft flight time for the pilot was 930 flight hours with 540.8 hours in the Cessna A188B, agricultural aircraft; however, there were no flight entries from October 1992 to July 1998. On July 14, 1998, the pilot satisfactorily completed a biennial flight review in a Cessna 172 single engine non agricultural aircraft. The pilot flew the accident agricultural aircraft for 19.5 hours in July 1998.

On July 27, 1998, at 1600 central standard time, a Rockwell International S2R agricultural aircraft, N8522V, ground looped during the landing roll at the Terry County Airport, near Brownfield, Texas. The aircraft, owned and operated by Virga, Inc., at Littlefield, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 91, was being repositioned from a private airstrip at Spade, Texas, to the Terry County Airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the repositioning flight which departed Spade, Texas, at 1500. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot was not injured. A flight plan was not filed.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported flying the aircraft to Brownfield to have the engine checked due to a lack of power from the engine. During the landing roll on runway 20, the airplane started to turn toward the left side of the runway. The pilot applied right rudder followed by right brake; however, the right brake application had no effect. During the ground loop, structural damage occurred to the right main landing gear, right wing, and propeller.

The airplane was examined by an FAA certified aircraft mechanic and the FAA inspector. Their inspection revealed "no abnormalities" with the brake system and "normal brake pressure." During an inspection of the maintenance records, the FAA inspector found no discrepancies with the brake system.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported his total aircraft flight time as 930 hours. The investigator-in-charge reviewed the pilot's logbook. From February 28, 1991, through October 4, 1998, the pilot flew the Cessna A188B agricultural aircraft for 540.8 hours. There were no additional flight entries until July 14, 1998, when the pilot satisfactorily completed a biennial flight review in a Cessna 172 single engine non agricultural aircraft. According to the pilot logbook, the pilot flew the accident aircraft for 19.5 hours in July 1998.