Grumman G-164A N6654

Summary

On 22 January 1993 at about 00:00 local time, a Grumman G-164A registered N6654, operated by San Joaquin Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Lost Hills, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 January 1993 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lost Hills, California, United States

Nearest airport

Blackwell Land Company (73L)

Coordinates

35.6093, -119.9006

Aircraft

Grumman G-164A

Registration

N6654

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

San Joaquin Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA098

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT DUE TO A BINDING LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN HE APPLIED SOME LEFT BRAKE PEDAL TO AID IN MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE RELEASED THE BRAKE PRESSURE THE LEFT BRAKE PEDAL REMAINED DEPRESSED WITH THAT BRAKE STILL ACTIVATED. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN SOME DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY USING RIGHT BRAKE PRESSURE AND RUDDER; HOWEVER, AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS BECAME LESS AND LESS EFFECTIVE AND THE AIRCRAFT EVENTUALLY RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD BIND WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.