Accident Details
A tailwheel-equipped airplane completed a local area flight and landed on a dry, gravel runway. After touchdown, the pilot applied the brakes to slow the landing roll. While depressing both brake pedals, the left brake pedal unexpectedly traveled to the floor. The airplane then swerved to the right, departed the right side of the runway, and nosed over in an area of soft, marshy, wet tundra. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the rudder, left wing, and left aileron.
Investigation Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector conducted a postaccident inspection. The inspection revealed that a hydraulic brake supply line fitting, located near the airplane's fuselage, had broken. The FAA inspector noted that the hydraulic brake line was not secured to the landing gear strut as required. This lack of securement allowed the line to flex and bend at the fitting during flight, leading to the fitting failure. The pilot reported that he had recently rebuilt the airplane himself.