1992-04-25: Piper PA-34-200 (N55296) — Falcon Aviation, Inc. — Van Nuys, CA
On April 25, 1992, a Piper PA-34-200 (registration N55296) operated by Falcon Aviation, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Van Nuys, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S BRAKES SYSTEM BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL NOT REPLACING BRAKE LININGS THAT WERE WORN BEYOND THEIR SERVICE LIMITS. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Probable cause
THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S BRAKES SYSTEM BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL NOT REPLACING BRAKE LININGS THAT WERE WORN BEYOND THEIR SERVICE LIMITS. THE RUNWAY LIGHTS AND FENCE THAT WERE IN THE AIRPLANE'S GROUND PATH AFTER IT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE PILOT APPLIED BOTH BRAKES TO SLOW THE AIRPLANE. THE RIGHT BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK RUNWAY LIGHTS AND A CHAIN LINK FENCE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S BRAKE SYSTEM AFTER THE ACCIDENT DISCLOSED THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE LINING WAS WORN BEYOND ITS SERVICE LIMITS. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE SYSTEMS HAD BEEN OVERHAULED IN MARCH, 1992.