Cessna 180 N3125D

Summary

On 23 June 2018 at about 01:30 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N3125D was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. 2 people were 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

23 June 2018 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Gold King Creek (AK7)

Coordinates

64.1928, -147.9461

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N3125D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1955

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fairbanks → Fairbanks

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC18LA048

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the brake line tube due to an improper flare.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he was landing with a right crosswind, and after touchdown, as the airplane began to decelerate, he applied left brake to maintain directional control. He stated that the left brake pedal was "soft" and traveled to its full forward limit. The airplane weathervaned and skidded sideways before the left main wheel went off the landing area and into brush. The left wing and left horizontal stabilizer impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot noted in a postflight examination that the brake line had separated at the compression fitting near the brake caliper where the brake line transitioned from a rigid line to a flexible line. A laboratory examination of the brake line and its components revealed that the interior surface of the failed end had circumferential marks consistent with formation of a flared end with a flaring tool. The sleeve was trapped within the nut from the failed end, and deposits of gray metal appearing consistent with deformed brake tube material were observed deposited on internal threads of the nut. According to Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular AC 43-13-1B, "Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices – Aircraft Inspection and Repair," a double flare is used on soft aluminum tubing having a 3/8-inch outside diameter or less. No evidence of folded walls consistent with a double flare was noted at either end of the brake line tube. No records could be found that showed the manufacture or assembly date of the fractured brake line components.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.