- Date
- July 26, 2015, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Dixie, ID
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N52095Cessna 180J
- Defining event
- Taxi-into takeoff position: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 16, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20150726011279A
- Case key
- 91724
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the right brake hydraulic line during taxi due to fatigue, which caused a loss of hydraulic fluid and rendered the brake inoperative.
Findings · 3
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.
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 commercial pilot was conducting a nonscheduled passenger flight. The pilot reported that, while he was turning the airplane to align it with the runway for takeoff, the right brake failed. The pilot subsequently intentionally ground looped the airplane to avoid elevated terrain near the runway, during which the right wing struck terrain. Postaccident examination of the right brake hydraulic line revealed that it was cracked where the line bends between the fuselage and main landing gear leg. It is likely that the crack caused a hydraulic fluid leak, which rendered the brake inoperative. Metallurgical examination of the fracture surface revealed fatigue striations and ratchet mark formations, consistent with a fatigue fracture.
Factual narrative
On July 26, 2015, about 0830 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180J, N52095, sustained substantial damage while taxiing for takeoff following a reported loss of the right brake control at the Wilson Bar USFS Airport (C48) Dixie, Idaho. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by SP Aircraft under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the non-scheduled passenger flight. The flight was originating at the time with a planned destination of Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. The pilot reported that the right brake failed while performing a 180 degree turn to align the airplane with the runway. As a result, the pilot stated that he intentionally ground looped the airplane, in order to avoid elevated terrain near the runway. Subsequently, the right wing struck terrain. Postaccident examination of the damaged airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that substantial damage was sustained to the right wing and aileron. The right brake hydraulic line was observed to be cracked at a bend between the fuselage and the main landing gear leg. The airplane is equipped with a hydraulically actuated disc brake on each wheel. Each brake is connected by a hydraulic line to a master cylinder attached to each side of the pilot's rudder pedals. The appropriate section of the brake hydraulic line was removed and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board, Materials Laboratory Division, for a detailed examination. Electron microscope images revealed that the brake line fracture surface was consistent with a fatigue fracture. Fatigue striations and ratchet mark formations were observed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N52095
- Reported as
- Cessna 180J (J)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18052496
- Built
- 1974
- Airframe hours
- 6,547.6
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Patrick, Scott, doing business as SP Aircraft
- Registered owner
- Patrick Bonnie
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 29, 2015
- Departed
- C48 · Dixie, ID
- Destination
- BOI · Boise, ID
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- C48 · Wilson Bar Usfs, runway 06, 1,500 × 50 ft, dirt
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
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 28, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2,900 total · 2,800 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- KP69, 53 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.4 MB 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.
Other investigations on N52095 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.