Tailwheel transition training aircraft ground loops due to brake failure

Casualties unknown • Chugiak, AK, US

A flight instructor and student pilot were involved in a ground loop accident during tailwheel transition training after the left brake failed to function properly.

What happened

A flight instructor was conducting tailwheel transition flight instruction for a private pilot. Prior to the accident, the crew had successfully completed eight stop-and-go landings. During the landing on runway 19, the student pilot applied the brakes during the landing roll. This application caused the Cessna (type not specified in source) to ground loop to the right. During the maneuver, the left wing struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Both occupants were not injured.

The investigation

Following the accident, the student pilot reported that the left brake pedal felt "mushy" and was less effective than the right brake during application. An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the aircraft at the airport and identified signs of brake fluid leaking from the left brake assembly. Upon disassembling the left brake assembly, the inspector discovered that the seals were severely weathered and worn.

Probable cause

The ground loop was caused by the ineffective operation of the left brake due to worn and weathered seals resulting in a brake fluid leak.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1999-09-09 Stinson 108-2 accident near Chugiak, AK?

A flight instructor and student pilot were involved in a ground loop accident during tailwheel transition training after the left brake failed to function properly.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1999-09-09 involved a Stinson 108-2, registration N97978, at Chugiak, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The ground loop was caused by the ineffective operation of the left brake due to worn and weathered seals resulting in a brake fluid leak.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X19664. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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