BELLANCA 14-13-2
Mesquite, NV — March 15, 2011
Event Information
| Date | March 15, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR11CA165 |
| Event ID | 20110315X61259 |
| Location | Mesquite, NV |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 36.82806, -114.05945 |
| Airport | Mesquite Airport |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | BELLANCA |
| Model | 14-13-2 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The malfunction of the brake system which led to the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that the airplane had not been flown in several months, and during the preflight inspection, he found that the brake fluid reservoir was empty. The pilot filled the reservoir and reported good braking during taxi for takeoff. At the destination airport, the pilot chose to perform a practice short field landing. The pilot stated that he immediately applied the brakes after touchdown but there was no braking action. He then vigorously pumped the brakes in an attempt to still make a short field landing. The pilot reported that the right brake suddenly functioned, but the left one did not. The airplane subsequently veered off the runway to the right as there was insufficient rudder effectiveness to straighten the airplane's tracking. The left wing impacted an airport perimeter fence damaging the wing and the lift strut. Additionally, the left main landing gear collapsed under the fuselage, and the right main landing gear splayed outward. The pilot stated that he could have easily made the midfield turnoff with no brakes.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.