# NTSB WPR15LA183: Beech E33A, N8401N, Tucson, AZ, June 11, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 2015, 08:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.446666, -111.002777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4467&lon=-111.0028&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91359 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91359/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91359 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA183 ## Probable cause A loss of left braking action for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation, which resulted in a loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech E33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151424), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beech E33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=1151424), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/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: [Beech E33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1151424), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Beech E33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1151424), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech E33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151424), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane touched down smoothly with the power nearly off. During the landing roll, the commercial pilot applied gentle pressure to the brakes to slow down; however, there was no left braking action, but there was right braking action. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane, and it departed the narrow runway and subsequently collided with a drainage ditch and cement wall. During postaccident examination of the brake system, the hydraulic system was found almost empty because the bleeder valve on the brake caliper had sheared off due to impact damage. The examination revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the lack of left braking action could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 2015, about 0840 mountain standard time, a Beech E33A, N8401N, exited the runway landing surface during the landing rollout at La Cholla Airpark, Tucson, Arizona, and collided with a drainage ditch. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed Tucson, about 0800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that the landing touchdown was smooth, with power nearly off. During the landing roll, he applied gentle pressure to the brakes to slow down, however the left side braking action was non-existent, while the right side brake held. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control as the airplane departed the narrow runway and subsequently collided with a drainage ditch and low cement wall. The wreckage was recovered to a secured facility where a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office examined the brake system. The inspector reported no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure. The hydraulic system was almost empty due to the bleeder valve on the brake caliper was sheared off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8401N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8401N), registered now, S/N CE-215, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH E33A - Registry model: [Beech E33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e33a) (registry code 1151424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CE-215 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2015, 2 hours before - Departed: 57AZ, Tucson, AZ - Destination: 57AZ, Tucson, AZ - Airport: 57AZ, La Cholla Airpark, runway 01, 4,500 × 44 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,500 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KDMA, 18 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 20150611012009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150611012009A), Jun 11, 2015: Beech E33A, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. On June 11, 2015 at approx. 840 am bonanza N8401N landed on runway 19. Landing and rollout were described as normal. Aircraft proceeded to runway exit with… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91359. 496 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459084&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement Email (item 2, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459085&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement%20Email-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459086&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.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.