What happened
On 11 May 2001, at approximately 13:34 UTC, a Pulsar aircraft, registration G-BTDR, was taxiing for departure at Manston Airfield in Kent. During the taxi phase, the aircraft began to veer slowly toward the right, resulting in the nosewheel leaving the paved surface and running onto the grass. The flight was a private operation, and the pilot was alone on board. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
Following the event, the pilot shut down the ignition to evaluate the situation. The investigation established that the deviation from the taxiway was caused by the left brake cable slipping. This slippage occurred because the pilot had utilized prolonged differential braking throughout a relatively long taxi distance.
To rectify the issue, the pilot readjusted the cable-operated brake. Following this adjustment, the aircraft was able to complete its planned flight to North Weald without further complications. As a preventative measure, the pilot reported that they have since installed double catches on the brake cables to prevent future slippage.