Accident Details
On April 25, 2014, at approximately 1825 central daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200 twin-engine airplane, registration N56755, was substantially damaged during a landing at David Wayne Hooks Airport (DWH) in Spring, Texas. The aircraft was registered to BAT Aviation, Inc. and operated by United Flight Systems, Inc., both based in Spring, Texas. The three occupants, including the flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction, were not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Sequence of Events
During the landing, the flight instructor was manipulating the flight controls and demonstrating a short-field landing. After touchdown at an approximate speed of 90 mph, the instructor retracted the flaps and immediately found that the right brake pedal went fully forward and did not slow the airplane. He pumped the brake several times in an attempt to build pressure, but was unsuccessful. The pilot receiving instruction checked his own brake pedals and confirmed the right brake failure. When the airplane's speed reached about 60 mph, the instructor shut down both engines. Subsequently, directional control was lost, and the airplane drifted off the left side of the runway, impacting a ditch at an estimated speed of 20 mph. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the lower aft fuselage and lower forward empennage.
Weather Conditions
At 1753, the official surface weather observation at DWH reported wind from 120 degrees at 5 knots, visibility of 10 miles, and few clouds at 6,500 feet. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicated that at the accident location and time, the sun was at an altitude of about 18 degrees above the horizon with an azimuth of about 275 degrees. Apparent sunset occurred at 1956.
Post-accident Examination
A photograph of skid marks on the asphalt runway showed that the left main gear tire left darker skid marks compared to the lighter marks from the right main gear tire. The following day, a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the brakes and found no problem with the right brake; however, it was unclear whether the brake system had been serviced or repaired after the accident.