What happened
On May 18, 2021, a privately operated SPEED 2002, registration EC-XIE, was performing a flight from Casarrubios del Monte Aerodrome to Torremocha de Jiloca Aerodrome. During the landing phase on runway 15, the aircraft experienced a loss of braking capability.
The pilot reported that after touchdown, the aircraft failed to decelerate as expected. While attempting to manage the landing roll, the pilot manipulated the parking brake lever. As the aircraft reached the end of the runway, it veered off the left side of the asphalt and entered a field with an upward gradient. The impact with the terrain caused the nose gear to collapse, leading the aircraft to lift and eventually overturn. The aircraft sustained significant damage to its propeller, nose gear, canopy, and wing structure, but the two occupants escaped without serious injury.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the functionality of the braking system and the installation of the MATCO PVPV-D parking brake valve. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance logs, the manufacturer's technical documentation, and the physical condition of the hydraulic components.
Testing revealed that while the brakes functioned normally when the valve was in the OFF position, the system failed when the valve was engaged. The investigation also analyzed the manufacturer's provided diagrams, discovering a contradiction between the valve's exploded view and its installation instructions. Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the operational habits of the aeroclub members regarding parking brake usage.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the faulty installation of the parking brake valve, which was oriented in a way that prevented hydraulic pressure from reaching the brake calipers when the lever was in the ON position.
- The aircraft's excessive speed on touchdown acted as a contributing factor, increasing the required stopping distance and reducing the pilot's reaction time.
- Conflicting manufacturer documentation regarding the valve's installation created a high risk of error during maintenance.
- Inconsistent usage procedures among aeroclub members regarding the parking brake contributed to the lack of detection of the valve's malfunction during routine operations.