WPR12LA430

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150F · Snohomish, WA · September 17, 2012

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 17, 2012, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
Place
Snohomish, WA
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N8130FCessna 150F
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 11, 2014
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20120917019009A
Case key
85096

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The failure of the right wheel brake hydraulic line during the landing roll, which rendered the brake system inoperative.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Landing gear system: brakeAircraft › Aircraft systems · FailureCessna 150F: 1 caseAll aircraft: 297 casesProbable cause
Landing gear system: brakeAircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degradedCessna 150F: 1 caseAll aircraft: 297 casesProbable cause
Fluids: hydraulic fluidAircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specifiedCessna 150F: 1 caseAll aircraft: 33 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that, when he applied wheel brakes during the landing roll, the airplane veered left. The airplane subsequently exited the runway and collided with a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane's right brake assembly revealed two small cracks in the rigid portion of the hydraulic brake line. The cracks were seeping red fluid consistent with hydraulic fluid. The breach in the hydraulic brake line and loss of fluid likely resulted in a loss of hydraulic pressure, which rendered the brake system inoperative.

Factual narrative

On September 17, 2012, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150F airplane, N8130F sustained substantial damage after it collided with a fence during the landing roll at Harvey Field Airport, Snohomish, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to the pilot, and operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Martin Field Airport, College Place, Washington, about 3 hours and 30 minutes before the accident. The pilot reported that when he applied wheel brakes during the landing roll the airplane veered left. The airplane exited the hard surfaced runway and collided with a fence. The pilot reported that after the accident he discovered a crack in the right brake hydraulic fluid line and that brake fluid was leaking from the crack. Postaccident examination of the airplane's right side brake assembly and associated brake line by representatives from National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, revealed 2 small cracks in the rigid portion of the hydraulic brake line. The cracks were about 1-inch below a clamp that attached the hydraulic brake line to the gear leg. Both cracks were seeping red fluid consistent with hydraulic fluid. The exam also revealed structural damage to the right wing spar. The pilot/operator failed to submit a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2).

Aircraft

Registration
N8130F
Reported as
Cessna 150F
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15064230
Engine
Cont Motor O-200 SERIES, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Stevenson Larry A
Registered owner
Stevenson Larry A
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Departed
S95 · College Place, WA
Destination
S43 · Snohomish, WA
Flight plan
Unknown
Airport
S43 · Harvey Field Airport, runway 15L, 2,671 × 36 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
75
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
905 total · 300 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
30.12 inHg
Observed at
PAE, 5 nm away

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 525 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.