What happened
The pilot reported that the incident occurred immediately after the aircraft touched down on the runway. During the rollout phase, the left braking system failed to function as intended. With trucks parked in close proximity to the runway edge, the pilot made the decision to perform a ground loop maneuver to prevent a collision with the stationary vehicles.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed significant contamination within the braking mechanism. Investigators found that the left brake assembly was covered in substantial amounts of hydraulic fluid, which likely compromised its ability to engage properly during the critical landing phase.
Findings
The ground loop maneuver placed extreme side loading forces on the airframe's undercarriage. This lateral stress caused the left landing gear to collapse upon itself. The primary mechanical failure was identified as hydraulic fluid contamination of the left brake assembly, which prevented effective braking and necessitated the evasive maneuver.