Propeller strike on taxiway light.

Attributes
ACN	294831
Time
Date	199501
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ftw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : scel
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 2750
ASRS Report	294831
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The aircraft, baron 55. One of the 3 propeller blades on the left engine struck a taxiway light. As there were no brakes on my side (right seat), the student discovered a sudden loss of brake pressure on the right rudder pedal. As he tried to tell me, the aircraft lost direction and pulled to the left abruptly off the taxiway. I tried differential power to control the aircraft back on the taxiway, but we were too close to the taxi light. Yes, evasive action was required. Use of brakes was required at that point. As we were coming close to the runup area for runway 34R, and discovery of loss of right brake was made, I believe we lost hydraulic fluid from the right brake line gradually -- eventually leading to right brake failure of it. But the left brake was still functioning. To prevent this from ever happening again, would like to be able to also control the brakes from the right side as an instructor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PROP STRIKE ON TXWY LIGHT.

Narrative: THE ACFT, BARON 55. ONE OF THE 3 PROP BLADES ON THE L ENG STRUCK A TXWY LIGHT. AS THERE WERE NO BRAKES ON MY SIDE (R SEAT), THE STUDENT DISCOVERED A SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE ON THE R RUDDER PEDAL. AS HE TRIED TO TELL ME, THE ACFT LOST DIRECTION AND PULLED TO THE L ABRUPTLY OFF THE TXWY. I TRIED DIFFERENTIAL PWR TO CTL THE ACFT BACK ON THE TXWY, BUT WE WERE TOO CLOSE TO THE TAXI LIGHT. YES, EVASIVE ACTION WAS REQUIRED. USE OF BRAKES WAS REQUIRED AT THAT POINT. AS WE WERE COMING CLOSE TO THE RUNUP AREA FOR RWY 34R, AND DISCOVERY OF LOSS OF R BRAKE WAS MADE, I BELIEVE WE LOST HYD FLUID FROM THE R BRAKE LINE GRADUALLY -- EVENTUALLY LEADING TO R BRAKE FAILURE OF IT. BUT THE L BRAKE WAS STILL FUNCTIONING. TO PREVENT THIS FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN, WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ALSO CTL THE BRAKES FROM THE R SIDE AS AN INSTRUCTOR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.