# NTSB MIA96LA017: Boeing B-17G, N3703G, Fayetteville, NC, November 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 1995, 11:02 local (16:02 UTC) - Place: Fayetteville, NC - Coordinates: 34.959354, -78.900627 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9594&lon=-78.9006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37938 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37938/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA017 ## Probable cause the failure of the airplane's normal brake system due to the open position of the pressure relief valve. Contributing to the accident was the pilot in command's premature engine shutdown resulting in the airplane colliding with the localizer building. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - to takeoff - landing gear,normal brake system - failure (cause) - hydraulic system,relief valve - open (cause) - engine shutdown - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - object - hangar/airport building ## Analysis While taxiing near the 90-degree taxiway turn-off to the runway, the brakes failed. The pilot elected to secure the engines, and while continuing down a slight grade, he applied full throttle to both left wing engines. The airplane rolled off the right side of the taxiway onto grass but continued across the taxiway run-up area down an embankment. The pilot then restarted the No. 1 engine and applied full throttle but the left wing of the airplane collided with a localizer antenna building. Postaccident examination of the hydraulic system revealed intermittent failure of the pressure check valve for the hydraulic hand pump, and failure of the pressure relief valve for the electric hydraulic pump. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 1995, about 1102 eastern standard time, a Boeing B-17G, N3703G, registered to and operated by Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation, collided with the localizer building at the Fayetteville Regional/Grannis Field Airport, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 business flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, airline transport-rated copilot, and commercial-rated other crewmember were not injured. The localizer building was damaged by the left wing of the airplane. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The copilot who was taxiing the airplane to takeoff stated that pressure gauges in the cockpit showed adequate pressure and he operated the brakes without incident. The airplane was about 100 feet from a 90-degree turn to the threshold of the runway when he observed that the brakes had failed. The pilot then elected to secure the engines and he noted that the hydraulic pressure gauges showed no pressure. The airplane continued on the taxiway down a slight grade and the pilot then applied full throttle to the No. 1 and 2 engines. The engines responded momentarily and the airplane rolled off the right side of the taxiway. The pilot then elected to restart the No. 1 engine and the airplane rolled across the threshold to the runway down an embankment. The pilot applied full power to the No. 1 engine which began turning the airplane to the right but the left wing of the airplane then collided with the localizer building. Postaccident inspection of the hydraulic system revealed no evidence of leakage under static conditions or when the brakes were applied using the parking brake. A hand pump located near the copilot's seat which is used to supply pressure for ground servicing operations or to recharge the accumulators due to failure of the electric pump was operationally checked. The pressure check valve was determined to be intermittent but after 25 strokes, the pressure gauge indicated over 900 psi which held for 15 minutes. The hydraulic pressure was then reduced and the hand pump operationally checked three more times with no further discrepancies noted. Operational check of the electrically operated hydraulic pump revealed that it built the system pressure to 1,000 psi then shut off automatically. The parking brake was then applied with no drop in pressure noted. A switch in the cockpit which when placed from the auto position to the manual position maintains hydraulic pressure without an automatic shutoff was operationally checked. No discrepancies were noted. The hydraulic pressure was then released and the electric pump was activated several times and after the second attempt, the system pressure would not increase. Attempts to increase hydraulic pressure using the hand pump were also unsuccessful. The pressure relief valve was then tapped and an audible noise was heard. The electric pump then increased pressure and tested satisfactory; however, the hand pump failed to increase pressure again. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3703G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3703G), registered now, S/N 44-83546-A, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing B-17G - Registry model: [Boeing B-17G](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-b-17g) (registry code 1380204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright R-1820 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1820-series) (registry code 67020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44-83546-A - Airframe hours: 8299 - Engines: Wright R-1820-97 1200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: David C. Tallichet, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1995, 22 hours before - Departed: FAY - Destination: NZC, JACKSONVILLE, FL - Airport: FAY, Fayetteville Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 596 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAY, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19951103035949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951103035949A), Nov 3, 1995: Boeing B17G, Fayetteville, NC, Substantial damage. Brakes failed taxiing. Tried control with engines. Ran down embankment. Hit antenna. Check valve hydro rump failure 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.