What happened
The aircraft experienced a loss of control while conducting the landing rollout. The pilot reported that the airplane began to veer toward the left side of the runway. Despite attempts to apply braking action to correct the trajectory, the efforts proved ineffective. Consequently, the aircraft departed the paved surface and collided with a ditch located within the designated runway safety area.
The investigation
A review of the aircraft's maintenance history revealed a pattern of issues, including two previous instances where the airplane had been ground looped. Maintenance work on the brake system had been performed just two days prior to the incident flight. Following the accident, investigators examined the brake system and determined that the left brake was dragging.
Findings
The runway safety area is subject to specific federal grant agreement requirements. Under these agreements, the municipality operating the airport must maintain the facility in accordance with policies, standards, and specifications outlined in relevant advisory circulars. Specifically, Advisory Circular 150/5300-4B mandates that the runway safety area should be capable of supporting the occasional passage of aircraft without causing major damage to the aircraft.
Safety message
The incident highlights the importance of maintaining effective braking systems and ensuring that runway safety areas meet federal standards for occasional aircraft excursions.