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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 8, 2013 · Piper PA-31P · N57JK

Doylestown, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 8, 2013
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Doylestown, PA
Aircraft
Piper PA-31P (1975)
Tail Number
N57JK
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA13LA409

Following a normal landing, the pilot felt no wheel braking action on the left wheel, and the brake pedal went to the floor. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control; however, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and traveled into the grass. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to a stop, sustaining structural damage to the left wing spar. Postaccident examination confirmed that the left brake was inoperative and revealed a small hydraulic fluid leak at the shaft of the parking brake valve in the pressurized section of the cabin. Air likely entered the brake line at the area of the leak while the cabin was pressurized, rendering the left brake inoperative.

NTSB Probable Cause

A leaking parking brake valve, which allowed air to enter the left brake line and resulted in the eventual failure of the left wheel brake during the landing roll.

Full Narrative

On September 08, 2013, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31P airplane, N57JK, was substantially damaged following a runway excursion during landing at Doylestown, Pennsylvania (DYL). The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The pilot reported that, following a normal landing on runway 5, the left brake pedal went to the floor and there was no braking action on the left side. He tried pumping the brakes to regain left braking action, but was unsuccessful. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, into the grass. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to a stop. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and inspected the airplane. He confirmed substantial damage to the left wing spar. The left brake was not operational when he inspected the airplane. Further examination of the wheel brake system revealed a leak at the shaft for the parking brake valve. He reported that this condition allowed air to enter the brake system in between the master cylinder and wheel cylinder when the aircraft was pressurized.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 EDT
Nearest AirportDoylestown Airport (0nm)
Runway05
Runway Length3004 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-31P
Tail NumberN57JK
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIGO-541SER · Reciprocating · 400 | Lycoming · TIGO-541SER · Reciprocating · 400
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 64 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter29.87 inHg
Observation Time14:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data