On 28 Mar 2017, a THOMAS CRAIG E WITTMAN W-10 NO SERIES was involved in an aviation accident near Stevensville, MT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s decision to take off with a known master brake cylinder leak and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB.
During landing roll, a tailwheel airplane's brakes failed due to a known leak, causing the pilot to veer off the runway and collapse the left main landing gear.
Incident Details
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, after landing at an airport along his route, he observed a leak from the left master brake cylinder. He stated that he "wiped up [a] considerable [amount of] brake fluid from the floorboard" and conducted a "thorough inspection" of the left brake before departing for another airport.
During the landing roll at the accident airport, the airplane weathervaned into the crosswind. The pilot applied "full rudder and [the] application of brake found no brake available." After pumping the brake, the pilot reported that the brakes began to function. However, the airplane veered off the runway to the right, and the left main landing gear collapsed.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
Contributing factors
PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedMalfunction