# NTSB NYC95LA218: Markwood BD-4, N511BD, Connellsville, PA, August 28, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 1995, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Connellsville, PA - Coordinates: 40.009685, -79.579353 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0097&lon=-79.5794&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 9, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA218 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39049/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA218 ## Probable cause Loss of braking action at the right brake, due to a low level of hydraulic fluid and inadequate maintenance, which resulted in the loss of aircraft control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - fluid,hydraulic - exhaustion (cause) - maintenance - inadequate (cause) - landing gear,normal brake system - malfunction (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the right brake 'completely failed immediately,' but the left brake functioned and pulled the aircraft to the left. Right rudder application was unable to correct this, and the aircraft went off the left side of the runway and into a ditch. Examination of the brakes revealed 'no signs of visible fluid leakage or broken lines.' The brake master cylinder caps were removed to check for fluid. The right cylinder showed no sign of fluid, and the left showed very little sign of fluid. There were no leaks or mechanical discrepancies in the brake system. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 1995, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a Markwood, BD-4, experimental, homebuilt airplane, N511BD, collided with the terrain during the landing roll at the Connellsville Airport, Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane had landed on Runway 23 (3,457 feet long and 100 feet wide). The pilot stated that when he applied the brakes after touchdown: ...the right brake completely failed immediately; the left brake functioned and pulled the aircraft to the left. Right rudder correction was unable to correct this and the aircraft went off the left end of the runway [into a ditch]. The FAA examined the brakes and found, "no signs of visible fluid leakage or broken lines...." The FAA Inspector further stated: ...after removing the brake master cylinder caps to check for fluid, the right hand cylinder showed no signs of fluid and the left hand showed very little signs of fluid. I functionally checked the brake pedals finding the left spongy and the right hand hit the mechanical stop. At the time of the accident, the pilot had 590 total flight hours, and 380 flight hours in this make and model airplane. The reported local weather was; clear, visibility 12 miles, temperature 73 degrees F, winds calm, altimeter 30.05 inches Hg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N511BD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N511BD-1996-12-24), registration cancelled 1996-12-24, S/N 511 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MARKWOOD BD-4 - Registry model: [Markwood BD-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/markwood-bd-4) (registry code 1130574) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 511 - Airframe hours: 750 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenneth M. Berry - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 1994, 200 hours before - Departed: ACY, ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Destination: 2G3 - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 2G3, Connellsville, runway 23, 3,458 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 590 total, 380 in this make and model, 469 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F ## 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 19950828048929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950828048929A), Aug 28, 1995: Amtr BD4, Connellsville, PA, Substantial damage. (-16) The pilot stated that he had a problem after landing. He applied brakes and the right brake completely failed immediately. The left brake functioned and… 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.