- Date
- September 4, 1996, 20:25 local (Sep 5, 1996, 03:25 UTC)
- Place
- Auburn, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N425WBCessna 425
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960904029839A
- Case key
- 29555
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
failure of the right brake system (master cylinder O-ring seal). Factors relating to the accident were: the narrow runway, and the presence of a ditch adjacent to the runway.
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
According to the pilot, at the conclusion of a 2.5 hour cross-country flight, he landed without difficulty within the first 1/4 of runway 07, which was 3,100 long by 60 feet wide. He applied full reverse thrust, and then he discontinued its use as the airplane slowed and approached the last 1/3 of the runway. The pilot then depressed the brake peddles. The right peddle 'went to the floor,' and the airplane veered left. About 3/4 of the way down the runway, the pilot feathered the right propeller and applied power to the left engine. Despite these efforts, the airplane continued veering toward the left, and it eventually went into a ditch collapsing the nose gear. During a subsequent examination of the airplane's brake system, the right gear brake pads and disc were found in good (serviceable) condition. However, the O-rings in the brake housing had a distorted shape. When the brake system was pressurized, hydraulic fluid leaked past the O-rings. New O-rings were installed in the right brake assembly, and it was pressurized. No leaks were noted, and the brake system then appeared airworthy. The airplane was maintained on an approved inspection program, and it had been inspected about 110 hours before the accident flight.
Factual narrative
On September 4, 1996, at 2025 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 425, N425WB, landed on runway 07 at the (uncontrolled) Auburn Municipal Airport, Auburn, California. According to the pilot, he lost control of the airplane during rollout. The airplane veered left off the runway and was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial pilot nor passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The business flight originated from the Snohomish County Airport (Payne Field), Everett, Washington, at 1800.
The pilot reported that the airplane touched down within the first 1/4 of the runway, and he applied full reverse thrust. The application of reverse thrust was discontinued as the airplane approached the last 1/3 of the runway, and firm braking was initiated. As the brakes were applied the airplane veered left, and the "right (rudder) peddle went to the floor." The pilot further reported that he tried steering using the rudder but had little success. About 3/4 of the way down the runway, the pilot feathered the right engine's propeller and applied power to the left engine. Despite these efforts, the airplane continued veering toward the left side of the runway, and it eventually went into a ditch, collapsing the nose gear.
The airplane's brake system was examined by a mechanic from PassTime Aviation, Auburn. According to PassTime's general manager, the right brake pads and disc were found in good (serviceable) condition. The O-rings in the brake housing had a distorted shape. When the brake system was pressurized, hydraulic fluid leaked past the O-rings.
New O-rings were installed in the right brake assembly and it was pressurized. No leaks were noted, and the brake system then appeared airworthy.
The airplane was maintained on an approved inspection program. Its last inspection was performed about 110 hours prior to the accident flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N425WB
- Reported as
- Cessna 425
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 425-0028
- Airframe hours
- 3,794
- Engine
- P&W PT6-135, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Bobbie Devlin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · April 12, 1996 · 110 hours before
- Departed
- PAE · Everett, WA
- Destination
- AUN
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- AUN · Auburn Municipal, runway 7, 3,100 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,800 total · 136 in this make and model · 2,500 as pilot in command · 185 in the last 90 days · 81 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.