Departure and Loss of Control
The pilot initiated a departure from runway 17, which had a crosswind from the east. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered into the wind. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation using rudder input, but the correction was insufficient. When the pilot applied the brakes, they were unresponsive, and the airplane subsequently ground looped, resulting in substantial damage.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot, no issues with the brakes were noted prior to the takeoff roll. The wind at the time of the accident was recorded at 120 degrees and 8 knots.
Examination Findings
Inspection of the brake system revealed that the AN #3 fitting was cross-threaded. Additionally, metal contamination was found inside the brake hose. These defects prevented a seal from forming, which caused a leak of brake fluid. An examination of the remaining airplane systems found no other anomalies.