# NTSB WPR09LA236: Cessna 140, N73017, Mesquite, NV, May 10, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 2009, 12:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Mesquite, NV - Coordinates: 36.833057, -114.055831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8331&lon=-114.0558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73801 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73801/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73801 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA236 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing resulting from binding of the left wheel's brake actuating system for an undetermined reason. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he made a normal landing on the runway. During rollout, he felt a vibration coming from the landing gear. When he exited the runway, the airplane turned abruptly to the left, as if the left brake had locked up. The uncommanded sharp left turn resulted in the airplane exiting the pavement and impacting a cement culvert. The examination of the runway revealed witness marks consistent with a locked left wheel brake. An examination of the airplane's left wheel assembly revealed that the tire rotated freely. No external evidence of brake failure was found. The reason for the intermittent anomaly associated with the brake assembly or cylinder was not determined. ## Factual narrative On May 10, 2009, about 1235 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 140, N73017, ground looped following landing at the Mesquite Airport, Mesquite, Nevada. The accident occurred as the pilot taxied off the runway. The pilot owned and operated the airplane, and it was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial certificated pilot nor passenger was injured during the personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it originated from Mesquite about 1155. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that, following a normal landing, he felt a "substantial vibration coming from the landing gear" as the airplane rolled out on the runway. When the pilot exited the runway, the airplane "turned abruptly to the left." The pilot opined that the airplane's left brake may have locked up. The uncommanded sharp left turn resulted in the airplane exiting the pavement. The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator that he attempted to maintain directional control by applying right brake and rudder, but his efforts were ineffective. As the airplane approached a cement drainage culvert, the pilot applied full left rudder in order to avoid going into the culvert. This action kept the airplane from entering the culvert. However, the empennage contacted the cement edge of the culvert, which resulted in substantial airframe damage. Two airframe bulkheads and stringers were deformed, and the empennage was partially crushed. At the time of the mishap, the wind was light and variable. The FAA coordinator examined the runway. He reported observing tire witness marks that were consistent with a stuck brake on the airplane's left main landing gear wheel. According to the FAA coordinator, the left wheel and brake assembly were examined externally. The wheel was found to rotate freely. No evidence of a brake cylinder failure was noted. However, the FAA stated that "there is a good possibility of an intermittent failure of a brake cylinder consistent with possible momentary contamination of the system." The pilot reported having 7,250 total hours of flight time, of which 150 hours were obtained flying the accident model of airplane. The FAA coordinator indicated that he believed the pilot had sufficient flying experience to not have inadvertently applied improper brake pressure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73017](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73017-2022-07-02), registration cancelled 2022-07-02, S/N 10222, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10222 - Airframe hours: 3609 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 19, 2009 - Departed: 67L, Mesquite, NV - Destination: 67L, Mesquite, NV - Airport: 67L, Mesquite, runway 01, 5,121 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 25, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 7,250 total, 150 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 100 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: 67L ## 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 20090510009259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090510009259A), May 10, 2009: Cessna 140, Mesquite, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing rollout transitioning from runway 01 at K67L the aircraft experienced an uncontrolled left turn exiting the runway and taxiway… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73801. 901 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 560 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324278&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Report (item 3, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324279&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Report-Master.PDF - Statement From Airport Attendant (item 4, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324280&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20From%20Airport%20Attendant-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.