N2509NCessna 140 · 1947

According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was high on the approach but he allowed her to continue as he determined the landing was achievable based on visual references and cues. The student performed the landing flare, the airplane “hit hard and bounced quite high,” and the airplane pitched nose up to about a 45-degree angle. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, pushed the nose downward and applied full engine power to recover from the “imminent stall.” The flight instructor explained that the airplane lacked the power, airspeed, and altitude to outclimb the trees to its front and continued to fly the airplane “right at stall speed” until it settled into an area of small trees and heavy brush beyond the departure end of the landing runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage and wings, and minor injuries to the occupants.

The pilot reported that during his landing roll, he attempted to slow the airplane as he exited the runway for the taxiway. As he applied brakes, the left brake loss pressure and the right brake maintained its pressure and operated normally. This anomaly caused the airplane to ground loop, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the left brake master cylinder was void of fluid. Fluid was filled into the master cylinder and when pressure was applied to simulate braking, fluid began to seep from the master cylinder. The master cylinder was disassembled revealing a damaged O-ring seal. The O-ring was pinched and cut; therefore, unable to maintain hydraulic fluid within the master cylinder and resulted in the loss of braking. A review of maintenance records reveal that the braking system was serviced about a month prior, but no anomalies were noted during the service.