Maule MX-7 N114MK

Summary

On 11 May 2012 at about 21:35 local time, a Maule MX-7 registered N114MK was involved in an accident near Roche Harbor, Washington, 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

11 May 2012 at 21:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Roche Harbor, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Roche Harbor (WA09)

Coordinates

48.6122, -123.1383

Aircraft

Maule MX-7

Registration

N114MK

Category

Airplane

Year built

1985

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anacortes → Roche Harbor

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA207

Nobody was injured.

A damaged brake master cylinder piston rod, which resulted in a landing with the left brake applied. The damage was a result of normal parking brake operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner was conducting a short personal flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The departure, flight, and approach to the paved 30-ft by 3,593-ft runway were all normal, and the wind was calm. The pilot made a normal and uneventful three-point landing, but immediately after touchdown, the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder and some right brake, but he was unable to keep the airplane on the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, traversed an adjacent grassy area, and struck a drainage ditch about 50 ft from the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left brake master cylinder piston rod was damaged such that it could prevent release of brake pressure. The damage was attributed to normal operation of the parking brake, during which a locking lever formed multiple cuts and ridges in the rod, and, under certain conditions, could prevent the free travel required for release of brake pressure. Although the damage to the piston rod would have been detectable by a detailed inspection, its nature, extent, and location limited its ability to be detected under the scope of a typical annual inspection. In addition, the pilot had not had any previous occurrences of dragging or stuck brakes, which would have warranted a more detailed inspection of the brake system components. Once airborne, the pilot had no way to detect, prevent, or eliminate a locked wheel due to this condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.