Executive summary
The pilot flew a party of five tourists to land on the airstrip near the summit of Mt Tarawera. The approach and touchdown, in tail and crosswind conditions, was routine and an initial application of left brake gave no cause for concern. On the second application there was no response from the left brake and the aircraft began to drift to the right. The aircraft over ran the airstrip, went through some soft ground, and came to rest substantially damaged in a boulder strewn area of alpine scrub. The left mainwheel brake unit disc assembly had been weakened by corrosion and had failed. No injuries were sustained by the occupants. Recommendations were made concerning operations to the airstrip, and the susceptibility of the disc brake assembly type to corrosion and failure.
Related Recommendations
Disused vector 01/19 on the Club's private strip at Mt Tarawera airstrip be marked with a white cross at each end to deter any pilot from attempting a landing on it.
Cessna 207 operations to the Mt Tarawera airstrip be discontinued until the full length of the strip is available and in good repair.
A blanket or other means of keeping warm be available for each passenger on flight involving landing at exposed or remote locations.
If the landing procedure required cannot be adhered to in respect of flap settings and approach speeds then no landing be attempted.