When The Pilot Applied Brake Pressure The Airplane Did Not Appear To Significantly Decelerate And Started To Drift To The Left

Location: Mesa, AZ Accident Number: WPR23LA028
Date & Time: November 3, 2022, 19:15 Local Registration: N150NE
Aircraft: Eclipse Aerospace Inc EA500 Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Positioning

On November 3, 2022, about 1915 mountain standard time, an Eclipse Aerospace EA500, N150NE, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Mesa, Arizona. The pilot and co-pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 post-maintence positioning flight.

Both pilots reported that after an uneventful flight, they began configuring the airplane for the landing approach into the 5,100 ft-long 22L runway at Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ). After slowing the airplane and configuring the flaps and landing gear, they were cleared to land. They reported that they touched down in the landing zone with the engines at idle, but when the pilot applied brake pressure the airplane did not appear to significantly decelerate and started to drift to the left.

The co-pilot then applied brake pressure, and with still no significant deceleration, he called for the pilot to activate the “all interrupt” switch to which the pilot responded that he already had. The pilot stated that by now he was applying full brake pressure along with full right foot pedal to try and steer the airplane back towards the centerline. They reported that the airplane did not respond. It eventually departed the left side of the runway, crossed over the last two taxiways, and came to rest in a drainage ditch.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov