Event Description
An air taxi pilot executed a landing that was longer than intended. During the landing roll, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before it ran off the runway and came to rest in a ditch. At the time of the incident, a gusty crosswind of 30 to 40 knots and turbulence were present.
Brake Malfunction
The pilot reported that during the landing roll, he discovered the left brake was inoperative. Subsequent examination of the aircraft revealed that a cotter pin was missing from the left rudder/brake pedal assembly. The absence of this cotter pin allowed the pedal retaining shaft to partially back out, which caused the assembly to become disconnected. The missing cotter pin was not found during the examination.
Pilot Compensation
The pilot in command was compensated through a percentage of the gross income generated by the aircraft he flew. According to the payment arrangement, if a trip was not completed, the pilot did not receive payment.
Conclusion
The incident involved a long landing, adverse wind conditions, and a mechanical failure of the braking system due to a missing cotter pin. No further causal factors were identified in the source.