According to the flight instructor in the multiengine Piper PA-34, he occupied the right seat during the instructional flight. He reported that, during the landing roll, the brakes on his side were inoperative, but the brakes used by the pilot under instruction appeared to function normally.
The flight instructor allowed the pilot under instruction to taxi to parking at the airport in Denton, Texas. During the right turn in the parking area, the pilot under instruction was told to apply both brakes, and the airplane started to “pull left.”
The flight instructor attempted to use differential thrust to arrest the left pull by increasing the right engine speed, but the attempt had no effect.
The flight instructor shut down both engines, however the left wing hit a parked airplane and came to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
The flight instructor reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had stopped on the taxiway and not entered the parking ramp.
A postaccident examination of the brake assembly revealed that the right brake actuator piston “o” ring had failed, which decreased hydraulic brake pressure and prevented proper brake function of the airplane.
Probable cause: The flight instructor’s decision to continue to taxi the airplane to the parking area with a known brake malfunction, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with a parked airplane.
NTSB Identification: GAA17CA093
This December 2016 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.
Ok, you are instructing and you find out that the brakes don’t work on your side. So you tell the person in the left seat to shut it all down after calling for a tug. The runway is now blocked. The NTSB really thought this one out? That is the implication of what they said isn’t it?
And the MEI tried to use differential thrust. So the plane is pulling left and they increase the right engine’s power… That is only going to make this worse. Doncha wanna increase the left engine power to turn to the right to counter the left pull? And at the same time take the right rudder peddle to the floor?
I happen to fly Pipers a lot. If there had been, in that particular plane, a hand brake, that is the one to use when you can’t get your toe brakes to work correctly. It is supposed to apply equal braking left and right. If it is non-functional, that is a serious squawk item.
Stopping on a taxiway would not have closed a runway.
Stopping the aircraft clear of obstructions on the ramp and using a tow bar to position into the parking area would have been a better option. Two people can easily move a Seneca.