Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE RIGHT BRAKE DUE TO A LEAKY BRAKE LINE.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On January 6, 1995, at 1815 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-17 airplane, N4492H, registered to Ross Nixon and operated by the pilot, ground looped during landing at Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Dutch Harbor for a local flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private certificated pilot and his passenger were not injured and the airplane received substantial damage.
According to the pilot, during the landing roll the airplane began to veer gently to the right and he corrected by applying left rudder. The airplane then began to veer to the left and he applied right rudder. When the airplane did not respond, he applied right brake. The application of the right brake had no effect on the ground track of the airplane. The airplane continued to turn to the left and the right main gear collapsed. The right wing dragged the ground.
A pressure check and examination of the brake system showed that the brake line leading to the master cylinder was leaking. The brake line was an original Piper manufactured brake line.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC95LA026