Summary
On October 6, 2015, about 1900 eastern daylight time, a Beech 58, registration N25734, sustained substantial damage when it impacted an airport perimeter fence while taxiing at Southwest Georgia Regional Airport (ABY), Albany, Georgia. The commercial pilot was not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
Event Details
The flight originated from Dawson Municipal Airport (16J), Dawson, Georgia, around 1830. According to the pilot, the flight was uneventful. While taxiing from the runway, the pilot noted "softness" when applying the left brake. Upon entering the ramp area, he applied the brakes to slow the airplane, but they had no effect. The airplane rolled into a grass area and impacted an airport perimeter fence.
Aircraft Information
According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the airplane was manufactured in 1973 and registered to a corporation in 2012. It was equipped with two Continental Motors IO-520 series 285-horsepower engines. The most recent annual inspection was completed on March 9, 2015, at which time the airplane had accumulated 1,145.7 hours in-service. The maintenance log entry stated that the inspection was performed per manufacturer guidance and that the main landing gear brake linings were replaced. Manufacturer guidance for the 100-hour inspection includes checking brakes for condition, wear, ease of operation, and proper release of the parking brake, as well as checking for unusual brake chatter.
Examination Findings
Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The Hobbs meter indicated 1,214.8 hours at the time of the accident. Brake examination showed a trace amount of hydraulic fluid in both brake reservoirs. Hydraulic fluid was noted on the surface of the left wheel torque plate. The left wheel torque plate assembly exhibited several fractures, and the fitting tube was bent. The right wheel torque plate also exhibited fractures, and one bolt was absent from the torque plate.
The main wheel torque plates and an attachment bolt from the right wheel plate were examined at the NTSB Materials Laboratory. Both plates were fractured into multiple pieces, with several bolt holes intersected by fractures. Bench binocular microscope examination revealed crack arrest marks typical of fatigue cracking emanating from several bolt holes. The fatigue crack regions exhibited a black tint consistent with oxidation in ferrous metal. The fatigue cracks terminated, and regions outside showed a rough granular texture consistent with overstress separation. The attachment bolt from the right wheel plate was fractured on a slant plane with features typical of overstress separation.