On March 23, 1992, a Grumman G-164 (registration N580Y) operated by Simmons, William Harry was involved in an aviation accident near Malden, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to the right main landing gear brake failing to release after application, which resulted from noncompliance with an applicable airworthiness directive. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft veered off the runway after landing and struck a taxiway light. The incident was caused by the right main landing gear brake failing to release, preventing the pilot from maintaining directional control.
What happened
The accident airplane departed the active runway surface during the landing roll phase. Upon touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes as part of the normal deceleration procedure. However, the right main landing gear brake failed to release after being engaged. This mechanical failure resulted in a loss of directional control, causing the aircraft to veer off the paved surface and collide with a taxiway light.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the airframe and landing gear assembly revealed a critical maintenance discrepancy. Inspectors found that an Airworthiness Directive (AD) specifically issued to prevent the inadvertent lockup of the right brake had not been complied with by the responsible maintenance personnel or owner.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this accident was the failure of the right main landing gear brake to release after application. This mechanical fault directly led to the loss of directional control during the critical landing roll. The root cause was traced to non-compliance with a mandatory safety directive designed to prevent exactly this type of brake system malfunction.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to the right main landing gear brake failing to release after application, which resulted from noncompliance with an applicable airworthiness directive.