Accident Overview
On June 11, 2015, at approximately 0840 mountain standard time, a Beech E33A aircraft, registration N8401N, was involved in a runway excursion during landing at La Cholla Airpark in Tucson, Arizona. The aircraft subsequently collided with a drainage ditch. The commercial pilot, who was also the owner, was operating the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 for a local personal flight. The flight had departed Tucson around 0800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured, but the airplane sustained substantial damage.
Pilot Report
According to a written statement from the pilot, the landing touchdown was smooth with power nearly off. During the landing roll, the pilot applied gentle pressure to the brakes to slow down. However, the left-side braking action was non-existent, while the right-side brake held. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, causing the airplane to depart the narrow runway and collide with a drainage ditch and a low cement wall.
Post-Accident Examination
The wreckage was recovered to a secured facility, where a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office examined the brake system. The inspector reported no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure. However, the hydraulic system was almost empty because the bleeder valve on the brake caliper had been sheared off.