On March 9, 1990, a North American T-6 G (registration N96143) was involved in an aviation accident near Albany, GA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot contended that the left brake locked due to excessive expansion of the brake material (about 0.090 inches above normal clearance of 0.010 inches) caused by taxiing through water, which prevented directional control during landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a full-stop landing, the pilot lost directional control when the left brake assembly locked at touchdown, causing the aircraft to ground loop and veer off the right side of the runway.
Event Description
While attempting a full-stop landing, the pilot experienced a loss of directional control when the left brake assembly became locked at touchdown. The airplane subsequently ground looped and veered off the right side of the runway.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that a locked left brake prevented him from regaining directional control. After researching the issue, the pilot contended that taxiing through a pool of water before takeoff from Greenwood, Mississippi caused the brake material to expand by approximately 0.090 inches. The normal clearance between the brake drum and the brake material is 0.010 inches. This expansion, according to the pilot, caused the left brake to lock, preventing the wheel from rolling freely.
Probable cause
The pilot contended that the left brake locked due to excessive expansion of the brake material (about 0.090 inches above normal clearance of 0.010 inches) caused by taxiing through water, which prevented directional control during landing.