Event LAX02LA145

Factual narrative

On May 4, 2002, at 0900 Pacific daylight time, a Maule M-4-210, N51460, ground looped during landing at the Reno/Stead airport, Reno, Nevada. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The tail wheel equipped airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operated by Diamax, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 91, and departed from a private airstrip near Reno at 0850. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot told the FAA inspector that he applied the brakes shortly after takeoff to stop the wheels from rotating. In the pilot/operator report form, the pilot stated that upon landing, the right brake was locked or dragging and when he touched down, the airplane ground looped. The surface wind was reported calm. According to the FAA inspector who examined the airplane after it had been moved to a hangar, the pilot stated that during taxi, on several occasions, when the brakes were applied the right brake would stick and the problem was the parking brake clip on top of the master cylinder. The pilot said that he applied the brakes shortly after takeoff to stop the wheels from rotating and upon landing, the right brake was locked or dragging and the airplane ground looped. The surface wind was reported calm. According to the FAA inspector who examined the airplane after it had been moved to a hangear, the pilot stated that during taxi, on several occasions, when the brakes were applied the right brake would stick and the problem was the parking brake clip on top of the right master cylinder. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12