NTSB Factual Report

On March 19, 2007, about 1345 central daylight time, a Socata TB-20 Trinidad, N900Y, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during taxi at Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport (RHI) in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The private pilot was not injured. The flight departed Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) in Wheeling, Illinois, about 1030 en route to RHI.

The pilot landed on runway 27 (6,799 feet by 150 feet, concrete) and applied brakes when the right brake reportedly did not work. A "strong gust" of wind lifted the left wing and the airplane hit a runway sign.

A mechanic at RHI reported the pilot asked him to examine the airplane damage following the impact with the runway sign. The mechanic stated he observed damage to the airplane's right wing tip. The mechanic reported that he told the pilot it would not be a good idea to fly the airplane because there could be damage at the wing attachment points. The mechanic stated that following his examination of the damage and advising the pilot that the damaged airplane would not be safe to fly, he observed the airplane take off from RHI. The right brake was not inspected, but the airplane was flown without repair to the Eagle River Union Airport, Eagle River, Wisconsin, where it landed without further incident. The damaged area consisted of the right wing being crushed inward and torn open up to the wing spar.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during taxi. A contributing factor was the gusting winds and sign.