Accident Beechcraft 58 Baron N3707N, Thursday 25 March 1982

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Date:	Thursday 25 March 1982
Time:	15:25 LT
Type:	Beechcraft 58 Baron
Owner/operator:	Gapway Groves, Inc.
Registration:	N3707N
MSN:	TJ320
Total airframe hrs:	242 hours
Engine model:	Continental TSIO-520-WB
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Ridgeland, SC - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Winter Haven, FL (KGIF)
Destination airport:	Buckhannon, WV
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING LANDING, THE LEFT BRAKE WAS INOPERATIVE. WHEN HE REALIZED THE PROBLEM, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING TO STOP OR GO-AROUND. AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY WAS A DEEP DROP-OFF. THEREFORE THE PILOT USED THE RIGHT BRAKE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT GEAR SEPARATED IN SOFT TERRAIN AS THE PLANE ENTERED A DEPRESSION BESIDE THE RUNWAY. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THE LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS WET WITH HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE CYLINDER, PARAMOUNT MODEL VI-15-750-3, WAS DISASSEMBLED. AN INSPECTION OF THE MASTER CYLINDER PISTON SHAFT REVEALED SEVERAL COMPRESSION INDENTATIONS. THE INDENTATIONS WERE LOCATED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO PERMIT FLUID LEAKAGE AND INTRODUCTION OF AIR INTO THE CYLINDER. THE CAUSE OF THE INDENTATIONS WAS NOT DETERMINED.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: