Primary finding
Probable cause
The partial failure of the brake master cylinder assembly for undetermined reasons. A factor was the soft terrain adjacent to the runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated he applied brakes after touchdown and the right one failed. The airplane veered left off the runway into a muddy field and nosed over. A subsequent inspection of the brake system by an a&p mechanic revealed that the right brake was locked up at the master cylinder and would not operate. No reason for the lock up was reported.
Source record
Factual narrative
On February 26, 1994, at approximately 0830 central standard time, a Grumman G-164, N730Y, was substantially damaged during landing at a private grass strip near Almyra, Arkansas. The airplane, owned and operated by the commercial pilot, was landing after a local aerial application flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot was not injured. The pilot stated he applied brakes after touchdown and the right one failed. The airplane subsequently veered left off the runway into a muddy field and nosed over. A subsequent inspection of the brake system by an A&P mechanic revealed that the right brake was locked up at the master cylinder and would not operate. No reason for the lock up was reported. -