# NTSB LAX02LA145: Maule M-4-210C, N51460, Reno, NV, May 4, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 4, 2002, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.667499, -119.875556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6675&lon=-119.8756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54593 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54593/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54593 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA145 ## Probable cause The inadvertent activation of the parking brake and locking of the right brake. A contributing factor was the pilot's operation of the aircraft with a known malfunction of the right brake system. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - operation with known deficiencies in equipment, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,normal brake system - malfunction - parking brakes - inadvertent activation (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve ## Analysis The pilot said that he applied the brakes shortly after takeoff to stop the wheels from rotating and upon landing, the right brake was locked or dragging and the airplane ground looped. The surface wind was reported calm. According to the FAA inspector who examined the airplane after it had been moved to a hangear, the pilot stated that during taxi, on several occasions, when the brakes were applied the right brake would stick and the problem was the parking brake clip on top of the right master cylinder. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 2002, at 0900 Pacific daylight time, a Maule M-4-210, N51460, ground looped during landing at the Reno/Stead airport, Reno, Nevada. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The tail wheel equipped airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operated by Diamax, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 91, and departed from a private airstrip near Reno at 0850. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot told the FAA inspector that he applied the brakes shortly after takeoff to stop the wheels from rotating. In the pilot/operator report form, the pilot stated that upon landing, the right brake was locked or dragging and when he touched down, the airplane ground looped. The surface wind was reported calm. According to the FAA inspector who examined the airplane after it had been moved to a hangar, the pilot stated that during taxi, on several occasions, when the brakes were applied the right brake would stick and the problem was the parking brake clip on top of the master cylinder. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51460](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51460), registered now, S/N 1115C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-4-210C - Registry model: [Maule M-4-210C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4-210c) (registry code 5460112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1115C - Airframe hours: 1500 - Engines: Continental IO-360-D33A 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Diamax, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 2002, 80 hours before - Departed: N86, Reno, NV - Destination: 4SD - Airport: 4SD, Reno/Stead, runway 26, 7,600 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 10, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg ## 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 20020504007809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020504007809A), May 4, 2002: Maule M4210C, Reno, NV, No damage. (.19) On may 4, 2002, at 0830 pacific daylight time, a Maule M-4-210, N51460, ground looped during landing at the Reno/Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. The private… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54593. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Accident/Incident Report (item 2, .PDF, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438039&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Accident%2FIncident%20Report-Redacted.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.