Accident Overview
On May 5, 2022, about 2110 mountain daylight time, a Swearingen SA226-T(B), registration N36LC, was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway during landing at Centennial Airport (APA) in Denver, Colorado. The airplane was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight with two crew members aboard; neither the captain nor the first officer was injured.
Sequence of Events
The flight originated from Central Nebraska Regional Airport (GRI) in Grand Island, Nebraska, after disembarking six passengers. The crew departed GRI without passengers. During the takeoff roll, the captain observed that the airplane accelerated slower than normal. At a speed between 60 and 80 knots, the captain pushed in the parking brake handle and continued the takeoff. No anomalies were reported during the departure or en route to Centennial Airport.
Upon landing at Centennial Airport, the airplane swerved to the right. The captain was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. This resulted in substantial damage to the right wing.
Postaccident Examination
Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed that the right main landing gear brakes were thermally damaged and seized. The right main landing gear tires exhibited flat spots worn down to the wheel rims, consistent with no tire rotation during the landing. In contrast, the left main landing gear brakes were not seized, and the left tires did not have flat spots.
Investigators found no anomalies with the braking system that would have precluded normal operation. According to the flight manual, proper release of the parking brake requires the brake pedals to be depressed while the parking brake handle is pushed fully forward. If the parking brake handle is pushed forward without the brake pedals depressed, it is possible for the brakes to retain pressure.