WPR14LA045

A landing gear brake malfunction during the landing for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot reported that, during the landing after a glider tow operation, the airplane came to an abrupt stop and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder, both wings, and lift struts. A postaccident examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the right brake was locked up and that the tire would not rotate normally. During a followup examination, the right brake was disassembled, and no anomalies were found. After reassembly, the brake operated normally.

On November 7, 2013, about 1320 Hawaii standard time, a Cessna 305 airplane, N65070, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing at Dillingham Airfield (HDH), Mokuleia, Hawaii. The airplane was registered to, and being operated by the Honolulu Soaring Club, as a visual flight rules (VFR), glider tow flight, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The solo airline transport pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on November 18, the pilot stated that during the landing roll, the airplane came to an abrupt stop, and nosed over. The airplane received substantial damage to the rudder, both wings, and lift struts. On November 7, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, who examined the airplane at the accident site, said that the right brake was locked up, and the tire would not rotate normally. The airplane was recovered to a hangar for further examination. During a follow-up examination, the FAA inspector reported that he observed the disassembly of the right brake, and no anomalies were found. After re-assembly he said the brake operated normally.