NTSB LAX92LA038 — 1991-11-02 · SAN LUIS OBISPO, California, United States

N71T has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (EXPRESS ACFT CO LLC SERIES 2000, built 2004), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N71T QUESTAIRE Venture None

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE LEFT BRAKE AND NOSE WHEEL STEERING SYSTEMS. THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE AND STEERING SYSTEMS WAS DUE TO A DETERIORATION OF THE 'O' RING SEALS CAUSED BY THE USE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE RUBBER MATERIAL IN THE SEALS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE SYSTEM DESIGN BY THE KIT MANUFACTURER.

Factual narrative

ON THE LANDING ROLL OUT, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A GRADUAL RIGHT TURN WHICH THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE LEFT BRAKE AND NOSE WHEEL STEERING SYSTEMS. THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE NOSE GEAR FORK FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR. THE INSPECTOR NOTED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE AND NOSE WHEEL STEERING SYSTEMS WERE INTERCONNECTED. THE 'O' RING SEALS IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM WERE FOUND TO BE BADLY DETERIORATED AND HE REPORTED THAT THE HYDRAULIC FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. THE KIT MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS USING AN AUTOMOTIVE TYPE FLUID IN THE SYSTEM. THE INSPECTOR STATED HIS OPINION THAT THE AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE FLUID WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE 'O' RING MATERIAL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_LAX92LA038.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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