Brake failure leads to excursion of Socata M.S. 893 A at Zlín

Brake failure leads to excursion of Socata M.S. 893 A at Zlín – Štípa

Casualties unknown • LKSTIP, CZ

A Socata M.S. 893 A veered off the runway and into a ditch during landing due to ineffective braking, resulting in significant aircraft damage but no injuries.

What happened

On June 27, 2019, a Socata M.S. 893 A, registration D-EMJI, was performing a VFR flight from Kroměříž to the Zlín – Štípa airfield. Upon landing on runway 27, the pilot attempted to decelerate, but experienced a sudden failure in the braking system. The pilot reported hearing a "cracking" sound, followed by the collapse of the right brake pedal, rendering the brakes ineffective.

Unable to maintain control of the aircraft's rollout, the plane veered right into a grassy area. The aircraft continued its excursion, crossing a service road and descending a small embankment. The aircraft eventually came to a stop in a ditch located between the roadside and the edge of a field. The impact with the ditch was forceful enough to trigger the aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), prompting a notification to the Prague Rescue Coordination Center.

The investigation

The ÚZPLN investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the sequence of the excursion. Investigators examined the aircraft's landing gear and braking components. During a post-accident inspection, the pilot discovered a crack in a brake system hose which had caused a leak of hydraulic fluid.

Investigators also analyzed the tracks left by the landing gear. The tracks indicated that the nose wheel path was offset, and there was a discrepancy in the distance between the nose wheel track and the main gear tracks. While the pilot mentioned a "hard landing," the investigation could not definitively determine if this impact caused the hydraulic hose failure or if the failure was due to operational wear.

Findings

The pilot was qualified and the aircraft held a valid airworthiness certificate.
The primary cause of the accident was the reduction in braking effectiveness during the landing rollout.
A crack in a brake hose led to a hydraulic fluid leak, contributing to the loss of braking pressure.
The aircraft sustained significant damage, including damage to the propeller blades, the front fuselage, the left wing, and the failure of both the nose gear and the left main landing gear.
The pilot was uninjured.

Probable cause

The probable cause of the accident was the loss of braking effectiveness during the landing rollout, resulting in the aircraft veering off the runway; the investigation identified a cracked brake hose and hydraulic fluid leak, though it could not determine if this was caused by a hard landing or wear.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2019-06-27 SOCATA M.S. 893A accident near LKSTIP, CZ?

A Socata M.S. 893 A veered off the runway and into a ditch during landing due to ineffective braking, resulting in significant aircraft damage but no injuries.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2019-06-27 involved a SOCATA M.S. 893A, at LKSTIP, CZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The probable cause of the accident was the loss of braking effectiveness during the landing rollout, resulting in the aircraft veering off the runway; the investigation identified a cracked brake hose and hydraulic fluid leak, though it could not determine if this was caused by a hard landing or wear.

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