No fatalities

14 Oct 2015: CESSNA 421 B — First Flight — Amarillo, TX

Amarillo, TX, United States

On 14 Oct 2015, a CESSNA 421 B operated by First Flight was involved in an aviation accident near Amarillo, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The right brake master cylinder was low on fluid, causing the brakes to be weak. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During taxi, the pilot reported no right brake authority. The airplane exited the runway, struck a culvert, and sustained substantial damage. Investigation revealed low brake fluid in the right master cylinder.

Incident Details

During taxi to the runway, the pilot receiving instruction informed the flight instructor that the right brake lacked authority. The flight instructor attempted to apply pressure to the right brake but found it ineffective. Subsequently, the airplane departed the runway to the left, collided with a drainage culvert, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the left wing spar.

Post-Incident Examination

An examination of the brake system conducted by the operator's Director of Maintenance determined that the right brake master cylinder was low on fluid, which caused the brakes to be weak.

Maintenance History

The last maintenance performed on the brakes occurred on July 8, 2015, at which time both brake discs and all brake pads were replaced. The total time on the airplane since that maintenance was 33.6 hours.

Probable cause

The right brake master cylinder was low on fluid, causing the brakes to be weak.

Contributing factors

Causes

InoperativeDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedFluid level

Other contributing factors

Not serviced/maintainedMaintenance personnelInstructor/check pilotContributed to outcome