What happened
On 31 August 2013, a Pierre Robin DR400/100 Cadet, registration G-FTIN, was involved in a ground accident at Kirkbride Airfield in Cumbria. The aircraft was being operated on a private flight. While backtracking along the tarmac of Runway 10, the pilot intended to execute a 180-degree turn to align with Runway 28. At the time, the wind was recorded as 290 degrees at 10 knots.
As the pilot moved the aircraft to the right to prepare for the turn, the right brake reportedly began to bind. Despite the application of full left rudder and braking, the aircraft drifted, causing the outboard leading edge of the right wing to strike a steel fence post. The post, which stood approximately 3 feet 6 inches high, was located about 6 feet from the runway edge and was obscured by tall grass. The aircraft remained on the runway surface throughout the incident. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board, though the aircraft sustained damage to the right wing.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot and further inquiries. Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the maneuver and the mechanical state of the braking system. The company responsible for the recovery and subsequent dismantling of the aircraft for repairs reported that they found no visible evidence of the right brake seizing or binding. However, the investigators noted that a full functional check of the braking system could not be performed during the disassembly process.