Introduction
On 31 August 2013, a Pierre Robin DR400/100 Cadet, registration G-FTIN, was involved in an accident while maneuvering on the ground at Kirkbride Airfield in Cumbria. The aircraft was manufactured in 1988 and was powered by a single Lycoming O-235-L2A piston engine.
Flight Details
The flight was a private operation with one pilot and one passenger on board. Neither occupant reported any injuries. The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and was 53 years old, with a total flying experience of 791 hours, of which 205 were on the accident aircraft type.
Accident Sequence
The pilot was backtracking the tarmac Runway 10, a runway he was familiar with, with the intention of performing a 180° turn to take off on Runway 28. The wind was reported as 290° at 10 kt. As the pilot positioned the aircraft to the right in preparation for the turn, the right brake began to bind. Despite applying full left rudder and left brake, the pilot could not prevent the aircraft from striking a steel fence post located alongside the runway. The post was approximately 3 feet 6 inches high, part of a fence separating farmland from the airfield, and was situated about 6 feet from the runway edge, concealed by tall grass. The aircraft's wheels remained on the runway throughout the event.
Damage and Investigation
The accident resulted in damage to the right wing outboard leading edge. The company that recovered and dismantled the aircraft for repair found no evidence of brake seizure or binding, but they were unable to perform a full functional check of the brake system. The information for this report was derived from the pilot's Aircraft Accident Report Form and additional inquiries by the AAIB.