- Date
- August 29, 2001, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Marietta, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N28665Grumman American AA-5B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 26, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20010829028469A
- Case key
- 53160
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The pilot's operation of the airplane with known deficiencies. Also causal was the loss of brake pressure, which resulted in the failure of the right brake, and subsequent loss of control of the airplane.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he knew the right brake was "soft," prior to his intended departure, "but he felt it would be ok for this flight." As the pilot taxied to the runway for departure, the right brake "failed" and the airplane traveled off the end of the runway and down a 10-foot embankment. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right brake lining was worn "significantly," which permitted the brake cylinder to extend beyond its limits, and the brake fluid to seep past the cylinder seal. Examination of the airplane logbooks revealed that the last annual inspection was performed 11 months prior to the accident. No maintenance had been performed to the brakes since that date.
Factual narrative
On August 29, 2001, at 1615 eastern daylight time, a Grumman American AA-5B, N28665, was substantially damaged during taxi at the Donegal Springs Airpark (N71), Marietta, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed the pilot immediately after the accident. According to the inspector, the pilot said he knew the right brake was "soft" prior to his departure. He also said he tested the brakes during a taxi test, and the right brake was "still soft, but he felt it would be ok for this flight."
During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that as he attempted to turn the airplane onto runway 27 for departure, the right brake "failed," and the airplane traveled off the end of the runway and down a 10-foot embankment.
An FAA inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, the right brake lining was worn "significantly," which permitted the brake cylinder to extend beyond its limits, and the brake fluid to seep past the cylinder seal.
Examination of the airplane logbooks revealed that the last annual inspection was performed on September 4, 2000. No maintenance had been performed to the brakes since that date.
Additionally, the pilot did not respond to several requests made to obtain the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N28665
- Reported as
- Grumman American AA-5B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA5B0739
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- York Travelers Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 4, 2000
- Departed
- N71 · Marietta, PA
- Destination
- N71
- Airport
- N71 · Donegal Springs Airport, runway 28, 3,250 × 50 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MDT, 10 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.