Incident
On 11 May 2001 at 1334 UTC, a Pulsar aircraft, registration G-BTDR, was taxying for departure at Manston Airfield, Kent. The aircraft slowly veered to the right, causing the nosewheel to run off the paved surface onto the grass. The pilot reported that no damage was sustained during the incident.
Pilot Actions and Assessment
After switching off the ignition, the pilot assessed the situation and concluded that the veer had been caused by slippage of the left brake cable. The pilot attributed this to the prolonged use of differential braking during the relatively long taxi distance. The cable-operated brake was then readjusted. The aircraft later departed without further incident for its planned flight to North Weald.
Follow-Up
The pilot subsequently reported that double catches have been fitted on the brake cables to prevent recurrence. The commander held a Private Pilot's Licence and had 470 hours of flying experience, of which 265 were on type. No injuries were reported, and there were no passengers on board.