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NTSB Report

May 8, 1993 · Piper PA-34-200T · N47448

Simsbury, CT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 8, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Simsbury, CT
Aircraft
Piper PA-34-200T
Tail Number
N47448
Operator
Walter J Barrett
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO93LA072

THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A 2200 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL SHORT FIELD LANDING WITH FULL FLAPS, AND UPON TOUCHDOWN HE RETRACTED HIS FLAPS AND PROCEEDED TO APPLY HIS BRAKES. HE STATED THAT HIS LEFT BRAKE LOCKED UP AND HIS RIGHT BRAKE FAILED WHICH MADE THE AIRPLANE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE MECHANIC HAD JUST WORKED 16 HOURS BLEEDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND REPLACING BOTH BRAKE CYLINDERS. THE FAA REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD TOUCHED DOWN HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, AND THERE WAS 535 FEET OF SKID MARKS ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE BRAKES AND RELATED SYSTEMS WERE EXAMINED FOR LEAKING FIXTURES THAT ALLOW AIR INTO THE SYSTEM. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR SHEARED OFF.

NTSB Probable Cause

LACK OF BRAKING ACTION FROM THE RIGHT BRAKE. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Full Narrative

On Saturday, May 8, 1993, at about 0745 eastern daylight time, N47448, a Piper PA 34 200T, owned and operated by Walter J Barrett of Circleville, New York, sustained substantial damage during landing at Simsbury Airport, Simsbury, Connecticut. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot was landing on a 2200 foot long runway. He stated that this was a normal short field landing with full flaps. He reported that upon touchdown, he retracted his flaps and proceeded to apply his brakes. According to the pilot, the left brake locked and his right brake failed. Reportedly the airplane was just out of maintenance of which 16 hours was spent bleeding the system and replacing both brake cylinders. The airplane exited the runway, and the right main gear sheared off. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if the brakes and related systems were examined for leaking fixtures that allow air into the system. According to the FAA, the pilot touched down half way down the runway, and during the landing roll as he applied the brakes, the brakes locked up. There was 535 feet of skid marks on the runway, before the airplane exited the runway.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:45 EDT
Nearest AirportSIMSBURY (0nm)
Runway21
Runway Length2200 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-34-200T
Tail NumberN47448
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWalter J Barrett
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-E · Reciprocating · 200
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 33 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data