Event LAX97LA125

Factual narrative

On March 17, 1997, at 1530 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 425, N425TV, collided with a parked and unoccupied Cessna 425 (N707NY) following an engine start at the Fresno, California, airport. The aircraft was owned and operated by Intersection, Inc., of Dover, Delaware, and was beginning a local area maintenance test flight when the accident occurred. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, an airline transport pilot rated second pilot, and a mechanic onboard the aircraft were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. FAA airworthiness and operations inspectors responded to the accident scene, interviewed the occupants and witnesses, and reviewed the maintenance records and current work orders. Review of the aircraft maintenance records disclosed that the right brake master cylinder was replaced prior to this flight. In addition, the original Pratt & Whitney PT6-112 engines had been replaced by new PT6-135 turbo prop engines. In addition to the new engines, 4-bladed propellers were also installed in accordance with a Supplemental Type Certificate. Other work involving many other systems was performed as well. A representative of the company which installed the engines and propellers on the aircraft was interviewed. The representative stated that the engines and propellers had not been rigged following installation due to the aircraft's scheduled arrival at the paint shop. The rigging was an open item yet to be accomplished at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview conducted on March 24, 1997, the pilot stated that the purpose of the test flight was to check the aileron trim following work on the control system. Prior to engine start the pilot tested and held brakes. Following engine start and while waiting for a taxi clearance, the right brake pedal slowly went to the floor and the aircraft began moving forward and turning left. The pilot reported that he attempted to pump the right pedal to restore brake pressure, but without success. A loaded Cessna Citation was directly ahead of the aircraft and the pilot intentionally kept the aircraft turning left to avoid the jet as he moved the throttle levers into reverse to stop. When the aircraft failed to stop he pulled the propeller levers into feather and the condition levers to stop. The aircraft continued to move during this process and the left wing collided with the parked Cessna 425. Both the second pilot and the mechanic onboard the aircraft at the time of the accident provided written statements which corroborated the pilot's statement. Examination of the aircraft by an airworthiness inspector from the Fresno, California, Flight Standards District office revealed that the engine and propeller rigging was out of specification. When the cockpit controls were moved into reverse, the propeller blades would not move beyond a zero blade angle. Taxi tests disclosed no anomaly with the brakes, and the engines and propellers as rigged would not provide any braking or reverse thrust. Detailed examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of brake fluid leakage. The right brake master cylinder was removed from the airplane and shipped to the FAA Aircraft Certification Office in Wichita, Kansas, for examination. A certification engineer took the parts to the Cessna factory where it was examined and tested. The tests and disassembly revealed no discrepancies and the cylinder functioned within serviceable limits. Two pilots and a mechanic were going on a postmaintenance test flight to check the ailerons following control system work. The aircraft maintenance records disclosed that the right brake master cylinder was replaced prior to this flight. In addition, the original PT6-112 engines had been replaced by new PT6-135's with new 4-bladed propellers. The company which installed the engines and props said that the engines and props had not been rigged following installation due to the aircraft's scheduled arrival at the paint shop. The rigging was an open item yet to be accomplished at the time of the accident. The pilot said that prior to engine start, he tested and held brakes. Following engine start, the right brake pedal slowly went to the floor, and the aircraft began moving forward and turning left. He attempted to pump the right pedal to restore brake pressure, but without success. A loaded Cessna Citation was directly ahead of the aircraft, and the pilot intentionally kept the aircraft turning left to avoid the jet as he moved the throttle levers into reverse to stop. When the aircraft failed to stop, he pulled the propeller levers into feather and the condition levers to stop. The aircraft continued to move during this process, and the left wing collided with the parked Cessna 425. Examination of the aircraft by FAA airworthiness inspectors revealed that the engine and prop rigging was out of spec to the point that the propeller blades would not move beyond a zero blade angle. Taxi tests disclosed no anomaly with the brakes, and the engines and propellers as rigged would not provide any braking or reverse thrust. Detailed examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of brake fluid leakage. The right brake master cylinder was removed from the airplane and tested to factory specifications for a new cylinder. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12