GALEB G 2 N90SR accident near Elko, Nevada

Probable cause

An improperly installed brake cylinder, which resulted in insufficient hydraulic pressure being provided to three of the brake cylinders and the left brake being inoperable during landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, upon initial landing the airplane, the left brake was inoperative, and he chose to conduct a go-around and set up for a single-brake landing. The subsequent landing was uneventful, but the left brake was still inoperative. The pilot reported that, with about 1,500 ft of runway remaining, he chose to veer the airplane off the runway to the right to avoid running off the end. Subsequently, the airplane struck a drainage ditch berm, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.

Examination and disassembly of the hydraulically driven left brake assembly revealed that the No. 2 brake cylinder had not been properly installed, which allowed the brake pucks to move and resulted in three of them separating from the brake assembly. The separation of the brake pucks resulted in the No. 2 cylinder's piston being moved to the full-scale inward position. Subsequently, the No. 2 cylinder's piston then fully deflected, which resulted in a hydraulic leak that subsequently led to insufficient hydraulic pressure being provided to the other brake cylinders and subsequently to the left brake being inoperative during landing.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR18LA094 for the full record.