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Lancair hits hangar when brakes fail

By NTSB · June 7, 2017 ·

The pilot reported that during the landing roll he applied the brakes and the Lancair ES made a left turn, exited the left side of the runway, and hit a hangar at the airport in Hampshire, Illinois.

A post-accident examination of the airplane by FAA Air Safety Inspectors identified a failure of the airplane’s master brake cylinder, revealing the master cylinder was leaking hydraulic fluid and no fluid was found in the brake system’s reservoir.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to or during flight that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable cause: The failure of the brake master cylinder, which resulted in a loss of brake pressure and the subsequent loss of directional control during the landing roll.

NTSB Identification: GAA15CA129

This June 2015 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

About NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. It determines the probable causes of accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

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Comments

  1. LN says

    June 8, 2017 at 2:00 pm

    Lincoln was a wise man, that’s probably good counsel.

  2. gbigs says

    June 8, 2017 at 7:42 am

    Once again not doing preflight checks. And if hangared not checking the floor.

    • Wylbur Wrong says

      June 8, 2017 at 10:18 am

      Objection your honor. Assumed facts not in evidence.

      I have had something very similar take place where taxi and all prior to flight was good. But upon landing, a seal failed resulting in no brakes on one of the main gear. But there was plenty of fluid all over the inside of that main gear’s tire.

      Another plane that I was maint officer for had a master cylinder blow a seal on landing. The only symptom was the toe brake peddle offered 0 resistance as they needed to slow to make a taxi-way turn. Got a bit interesting.

      There are mechanical failures that do not cause a wing to detach. But they do cause problem once on the ground.

    • Paul says

      June 8, 2017 at 12:36 pm

      gbigs: Judging by your comments past and present I recommend you practice the Lincoln philosophy of public speaking, i.e. It’s best to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

      • gbigs says

        June 9, 2017 at 8:15 am

        Paul. Odd you should mention Lincoln. I am also a Civil War expert and have written extensivel on Lincoln.

        You and your pals on these boards like to take shots but lack apparnetly the experience and knowledge to judge the information you attack.

        Lincoln was devoutly religious and read the bible from cover to cover several times and prayed daily. And often quoted the text and added same to his speeches.

        Lincoln re-phrased this from Proverbs 17:28.

        Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

        So if you are gonna try to use Lincoln’s words to attack others you may want to get smarter on who the guy was to begin with so you can obtain context too.

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