Accident Overview
On July 7, 2022, at about 1440 Mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210R, registration N6353U, was substantially damaged when it overran the runway and collided with trees near Stanley, Idaho. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight.
Flight and Landing Sequence
The pilot reported an uneventful flight before entering the vicinity of the destination airport at approximately 1,500 ft above ground level. He observed the airport's north windsock indicating a direct crosswind, while the south windsock showed the wind from the southwest at 10-15 mph. He decided to land on runway 17 and maneuvered the airplane to enter the downwind leg around midfield. During the landing, he was unable to maintain a stable approach and performed a go-around immediately after touching down.
Subsequently, he made an approach to runway 35. The airplane touched down on the runway surface just past the south windsock, located about one-third down the runway. With approximately 2,300 ft of runway remaining, the pilot immediately applied heavy braking and retracted the wing flaps. The brakes did not respond. He attempted to rapidly depress and release the brake pedals multiple times, but the brakes did not function. The airplane continued off the end of the runway, went down a hill, and struck trees.
Examination and Findings
The airplane had undergone an annual inspection on July 1, 2022, six days before the accident. The pilot had flown the airplane on three flights since that maintenance.
Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the accident site. They found no evidence of skid marks on the runway and no flat spots on the tires. Inspection of the brake system revealed no signs of hydraulic leaks, and the brake master cylinder was approximately two-thirds full. The right brake was non-operational due to damage to the brake line at the caliper, which resulted from striking rocks at the end of the runway. The left brake appeared to function correctly. The inspectors physically engaged the brakes by pressing the pedals with their feet, noting that while the brakes were not exceptionally firm, this was a common characteristic in this make and model airplane.
A weather station located 12 miles east of the airport recorded the wind from the southwest at 8 knots at the time of the accident, equating to a tailwind of about 5 knots. The pilot reported the wind from the southwest at 10-15 knots.