History of Flight
On October 1, 2010, at about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Grumman G-164B single-engine turbine-powered aircraft, registration N48417, was substantially damaged after veering off a turf runway during landing at a private airfield in Edison, Georgia. The commercial pilot, who was conducting a local aerial application flight under 14 CFR Part 137, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that during the flight, while applying rudder pedal during turns, the right pedal felt "soft" while the left pedal felt normal. After returning to the airport and touching down, the pilot applied both brake pedals. The right pedal depressed fully and was ineffective, whereas the left brake operated normally. The pilot then applied reverse engine thrust, but the aircraft continued to the left, departed the runway, and came to rest upright.
Aircraft Information
According to FAA records, the aircraft was manufactured in 1976 and was powered by a Walter M601E-11 turbine engine driving a three-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller. The pilot stated that about one year before the accident, a right brake failure had occurred during landing, but the airplane was controlled without damage. A subsequent inspection found a worn o-ring in the right brake master cylinder, which was replaced. The most recent annual inspection was completed on April 9, 2010, at 12,500 total aircraft hours. During that inspection, both left and right landing gear brake pads and all wheel bearings were replaced.
Examination of the Brake System
After recovery, an FAA inspector examined the right brake system. Evidence of brake fluid leakage was found at the internal fuselage hydraulic line fitting, but no leaks were noted elsewhere. The right brake line was severed during the accident sequence, and no fluid remained in the upper system or the right brake caliper. A test line was fabricated and the system pressure-tested: applying pressure at the master cylinder produced caliper movement, with retraction upon pressure release.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine and multi-engine land, instrument airplane, and rotorcraft helicopter. He reported 7,700 total flight hours, with about 4,000 in the accident aircraft make and model. His most recent flight review was completed in June 2009, and his second-class medical certificate was issued in March 2010 with no limitations.
Meteorological Information
The 1639 weather observation at Bainbridge Airport (BIJ), about 13 nautical miles southwest, recorded wind from 320° at 3 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, temperature 28°C, dew point 12°C, and altimeter 29.79 inHg.