No fatalities

29 Jul 2009: CESSNA 180 H — MORGAN STANLEY L — Buckland, AK

Buckland, AK, United States

On 29 Jul 2009, a CESSNA 180 H operated by MORGAN STANLEY L was involved in an aviation accident near Buckland, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The improper installation of the set-screw holding the right brake cylinder cap, which allowed the cap to detach and jam the right rudder/brake pedal. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a personal cross-country flight, the pilot experienced right brake failure on landing roll. Examination revealed a set-screw on the brake cylinder cap was improperly installed, causing the cap to jam the rudder/brake pedal.

Accident Details

An airline transport pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, with three passengers. The accident occurred during the landing roll.

Pilot Account

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the right main landing gear brake did not function. He attempted to maintain a straight path but the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane ground-looped to the left. The pilot noted that the right wing, aileron, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator sustained damage during the ground-loop. He stated that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

Examination Findings

An examination of the right brake system revealed that the set-screw securing the right brake cylinder cap had not been properly installed. This allowed the cap to detach from the cylinder and jam the right rudder/brake pedal.

Probable cause

The improper installation of the set-screw holding the right brake cylinder cap, which allowed the cap to detach and jam the right rudder/brake pedal.

Contributing factors

Causes

MalfunctionAttain/maintain not possible

Other contributing factors

Maintenance personnel