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NTSB Report

June 3, 2006 · Piper PA-18-150 · N7452J

Birchwood, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 3, 2006
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Birchwood, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Tail Number
N7452J
Operator
Jack Hoffman
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC06LA070

The private pilot reported that he was taxiing for takeoff on a personal, cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR part 91, when the left brake locked. According to a witness, the pilot stated that he had serviced the brakes prior to taxiing. A mechanic repairing the airplane said he found that the left brake was over-serviced with fluid, and that the right brake linkage was improperly adjusted, leaving the left brake tight, and the right brake loose. The airplane sustained damage to its wings, wing spars, and horizontal stabilizer.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper servicing/adjustment of the main landing gear brakes, which resulted in a locked brake and a loss of control while taxiing.

Full Narrative

On June 3, 2006, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N7452J, sustained substantial damage when it ground-looped during taxi at the Birchwood Airport, Birchwood, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 20, a spokesperson for the pilot, who said she was calling at the pilot's request, said the pilot told her he had serviced the airplane's brakes prior to takeoff. She also said he told her the left brake was sticking, and that during the takeoff roll the left brake froze. According to the spokesperson, the pilot said the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, encountered a ditch, and ground-looped. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on June 15, the mechanic repairing the airplane said the airplane sustained damage to the wings, wing spars, and elevator. In a subsequent conversation the mechanic told the IIC he found the left brake had been over-serviced with fluid, and the right brake linkage was improperly adjusted, leaving the left brake tight, and the right brake loose. In a written statement to the NTSB dated June 6, the pilot wrote that he was taxiing when the left brake locked up.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 AKDT
Nearest AirportBirchwood (0nm)
Runway1L
Runway Length4010 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18-150
Tail NumberN7452J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJack Hoffman
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 B2C · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 60 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data