<< >> NASA ASRS Report 232777, January 1993

Brakes of small aircraft fail as he stops at hold line. Loss of control, hits taxi light. Forces air carrier to go around.

Attributes
ACN	232777
Time
Date	199301
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sat
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 4 flight time total : 95 flight time type : 27
ASRS Report	232777
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical conflict : ground critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Noticed brakes seemed weak while stopping to hold short of runway. Brakes seemed good after initial start-up. While holding short, requested back taxi to rechk brakes. When doing so, brakes were intermittent to nonexistent. Could not steer plane, ran over taxi light and entered runway, out of control. Air carrier flight on final approach had to go around. Brakes finally working while still on the runway and was able to taxi back and park. Brakes very weak while returning. Reported situation to operator who confirmed brakes weak. Could not see brake pads on wheels because of wheel covers. No evidence of brake fluid on ground before or after. Strange part is that brakes completely failed only for a short period. Will make more frequent tests on brakes while taxiing. If happens again, may shut down engine to stop.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BRAKES OF SMA FAIL AS HE STOPS AT HOLD LINE. LOSS OF CTL, HITS TAXI LIGHT. FORCES ACR TO GAR.

Narrative: NOTICED BRAKES SEEMED WEAK WHILE STOPPING TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY. BRAKES SEEMED GOOD AFTER INITIAL START-UP. WHILE HOLDING SHORT, REQUESTED BACK TAXI TO RECHK BRAKES. WHEN DOING SO, BRAKES WERE INTERMITTENT TO NONEXISTENT. COULD NOT STEER PLANE, RAN OVER TAXI LIGHT AND ENTERED RWY, OUT OF CTL. ACR FLT ON FINAL APCH HAD TO GAR. BRAKES FINALLY WORKING WHILE STILL ON THE RWY AND WAS ABLE TO TAXI BACK AND PARK. BRAKES VERY WEAK WHILE RETURNING. RPTED SIT TO OPERATOR WHO CONFIRMED BRAKES WEAK. COULD NOT SEE BRAKE PADS ON WHEELS BECAUSE OF WHEEL COVERS. NO EVIDENCE OF BRAKE FLUID ON GND BEFORE OR AFTER. STRANGE PART IS THAT BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD. WILL MAKE MORE FREQUENT TESTS ON BRAKES WHILE TAXIING. IF HAPPENS AGAIN, MAY SHUT DOWN ENG TO STOP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.