Rebel crashes on takeoff due to brake malfunction

The pilot of the Murphy Rebel reported that during takeoff from the airport in O’Brien, Florida, when the airplane was about 1,000 feet down the 2,750-foot-long grass runway, he was unable to raise the airplane’s nosewheel.

He increased the flap setting, but the airplane could not leave the ground.

Because the airplane was beyond the pilot’s normal takeoff abort point, he reduced the throttle fully and applied the brakes.

The airplane departed the runway end and hit a fence and two roadside ditches before coming to rest. The airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident.

After coming to rest, a fire ignited in the dry grass under the airplane’s right main tire and was extinguished by the pilot and passenger.

Following the accident, the pilot towed the airplane back to his hangar, and noticed the right wheel brake was sticking and that the right wheel had left a groove through the grass.

A subsequent examination of the right wheel and brake revealed that the right wheel rotated freely but with some resistance noted from the brake.

It is likely that the airplane’s right brake was partially engaged during the takeoff, which restricted the airplane’s ability to accelerate to an adequate flying speed and the pilot’s ability to pitch to a normal takeoff attitude. This resulted in the pilot’s eventual decision to abort the takeoff, and the subsequent runway overrun. Had the pilot noted this lack of acceleration earlier during the takeoff, it is possible that the takeoff could have been aborted with sufficient runway remaining to avoid the runway overrun.

Probable Cause: A partially engaged right wheel brake, which restricted the airplane’s acceleration and the pilot’s ability to pitch to takeoff attitude, and resulted in an aborted takeoff and subsequent runway excursion.

NTSB Identification: 102519

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This January 2021 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.