Event ERA19LA030

Factual narrative

On October 28, 2018, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8132X, was substantially damaged after a runway excursion and collision with a ditch at Simsbury Airport (4B9) Simsbury, Connecticut. The commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated by Interstate Aviation, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Bradley International Airport (BDL), Windsor Locks, Connecticut, about 1635. According to pilot, he was in the traffic pattern at 4B9 practicing approaches and touch-and-go landings. After touchdown on runway 21 for a full stop landing, the brakes "failed." He elected to steer the airplane to the right in an effort to avoid a fence and slow the airplane in the grass. The airplane departed the runway surface and collided with a ditch. The pilots exited the airplane and were met by first responders. The pilot also reported that, during taxi out for takeoff, the wheel brakes were "sluggish." An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. He reported that the left wing sustained structural damage during the landing. The left main landing gear separated and was found adjacent to the wreckage. The inboard and outboard brake pads exhibited normal wear. The brake assembly was attached in its normal position by two AN bolts. The brake assembly puck to brake pad and the brake supply hydraulic line also showed evidence of leaking hydraulic fluid. An examination of the right main landing gear wheel brake assembly revealed that it was missing from its proper mounting position on the right gear trunnion. The assembly was not installed onto the main wheel brake rotor with the required AN bolts. The hydraulic fluid line and elbow fitting were also not attached to the brake assembly. A review of the airplane maintenance records revealed that a 100-hr inspection was completed on October 10, 2018, or 18 days before the accident. The inspection entry included the following: "Serviced all tires, wheels, brakes, brake reservoir fluid." The main landing gear tires were also replaced during this inspection. The last maintenance entry where brake parts were replaced was on October 16, 2017. The commercial pilot was practicing approaches and touch-and-go landings. The pilot reported that, during taxi for takeoff, the wheel brakes were "sluggish"; when he was attempting a full-stop landing at the destination airport, the brakes "failed." The pilot steered the airplane off the runway to avoid a fence and collided with a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear separated from the airplane during the ground collision, and there was evidence of pre-existing hydraulic fluid leakage where the fluid line fitting connected to the wheel brake assembly. Additionally, the right main landing gear wheel brake assembly was not attached to the trunnion by the required AN bolts, and the hydraulic fluid line fitting was not attached to the brake assembly. According to the maintenance logbooks, a 100-hour inspection was completed 18 days before the accident. The logbook entry noted servicing of all tires, wheels, brakes, and brake fluid. Given that the right main landing gear hydraulic fluid line was detached from its respective brake assembly, it is likely that maintenance personnel did not adequately inspect the wheel brake system, and the right brake failed due to a loss of hydraulic fluid. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Brake-Inadequate inspection - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Inspection-Scheduled/routine inspection-Maintenance personnel - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Attain/maintain not possible - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-(general)-Contributed to outcome