What happened
On June 17, 2012, at approximately 10:35 mountain standard time, a Cirrus Design SR20, registration N552PG, exited a taxiway at Deer Valley Airport (DVT) in Phoenix, Arizona. The aircraft was being operated by a private pilot under Part 91 regulations for a personal flight.
During the taxi for takeoff, the pilot initiated a right turn. According to the pilot, the right brake locked up and failed, causing the aircraft to veer straight ahead. The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before it left the taxiway. The aircraft subsequently sustained damage to the engine propeller and the nose wheel assembly, eventually coming to rest nose-down in the grass. The pilot was not injured.
Weather conditions at the time were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 10 statute miles.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and found no mechanical anomalies in the left or right brake assemblies that would have prevented normal operation. During subsequent repairs, an authorized repair station replaced the tires and brake pads; they noted the presence of glazed brake liners, which can be caused by excessive heat.
Data extracted from the aircraft's Avidyne multi-function display (MFD) showed that during the final two minutes of the taxi, the engine speed ranged between 1,450 and 1,530 rpm, and the aircraft reached ground speeds of approximately 20 knots.
According to the pilot's operating handbook, the maximum continuous engine speed for taxiing on flat, smooth, hard surfaces is 1,000 rpm. The handbook also notes that excessive heat from improper braking practices—such as using the brakes to maintain speed while using excessive throttle—is a common cause of brake damage.