SIMSBURY, CT, USA
N47448
PIPER PA-34-200T
THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A 2200 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL SHORT FIELD LANDING WITH FULL FLAPS, AND UPON TOUCHDOWN HE RETRACTED HIS FLAPS AND PROCEEDED TO APPLY HIS BRAKES. HE STATED THAT HIS LEFT BRAKE LOCKED UP AND HIS RIGHT BRAKE FAILED WHICH MADE THE AIRPLANE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THE MECHANIC HAD JUST WORKED 16 HOURS BLEEDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND REPLACING BOTH BRAKE CYLINDERS. THE FAA REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD TOUCHED DOWN HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, AND THERE WAS 535 FEET OF SKID MARKS ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE BRAKES AND RELATED SYSTEMS WERE EXAMINED FOR LEAKING FIXTURES THAT ALLOW AIR INTO THE SYSTEM. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR SHEARED OFF.
On Saturday, May 8, 1993, at about 0745 eastern daylight time, N47448, a Piper PA 34 200T, owned and operated by Walter J Barrett of Circleville, New York, sustained substantial damage during landing at Simsbury Airport, Simsbury, Connecticut. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot was landing on a 2200 foot long runway. He stated that this was a normal short field landing with full flaps. He reported that upon touchdown, he retracted his flaps and proceeded to apply his brakes. According to the pilot, the left brake locked and his right brake failed. Reportedly the airplane was just out of maintenance of which 16 hours was spent bleeding the system and replacing both brake cylinders. The airplane exited the runway, and the right main gear sheared off. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if the brakes and related systems were examined for leaking fixtures that allow air into the system. According to the FAA, the pilot touched down half way down the runway, and during the landing roll as he applied the brakes, the brakes locked up. There was 535 feet of skid marks on the runway, before the airplane exited the runway.
LACK OF BRAKING ACTION FROM THE RIGHT BRAKE. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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