Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 11; Flight Crew Total 217; Flight Crew Type 26
Time Pressure; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Airport; Human Factors
ZZZ is an unimproved runway. I planned to go there with a friend for a camping trip overnight on the weekend.In preparation for the route; I used SkyVector to plan the route (and fuel quantity). I reviewed the Chart Supplement page for the airport; and also called the Airport Manager and asked for details. The Airport Manager indicated that I should land beyond the first road that is there; and that it's an in and out airport; given that high mountains are at the non-lake side of the strip. He advised that the safest place to put the plane overnight would be the lake-side area; as there's a shooting range at the mountain side of the runway. He also mentioned the doughnut tracks that are there; but did say that the runway is in use.I used Google Maps to review the runway; and its parts; and planned to land on the section of runway that seemed to be most used. I also did a 3D terrain view review of my approach; reconnaissance; and landing path.On the morning of the flight; I got a weather briefing by phone; also discussing weather for the Sunday (given there would be no cell coverage at ZZZ).Before the flight; I topped up to full fuel; as the plane did not have full fuel.As I approached the airport; I located the runway; and flew over the field; noted the windsock; and noted that there'd be a tailwind landing. Thus; I expected a slightly faster approach speed.As I approached to land; with full flaps; I planned to have an approach speed of ~65 mph; with full flaps.During the landing; I came in and touched down just after the road on the more used section of the runway (based on Google Maps review); and attempted to keep the nose up for as long as possible. The landing was rougher than I expected; and during the latter part of the landing; I made a split-second decision to transition from the runway to the taxiway; as it appeared to be smoother. During this transition; the left wheel struck some rocks that someone had stacked in a pile on one of the small tire markers that delineated the runway/taxiway.After the landing; I shut down the plane; and reviewed the wheels; and noticed that hydraulic fluid was leaking on the left wheel.I started the plane again; and taxied to the location that I'd planned upon near the lakeside end of the runway.I made arrangements to call a more experienced pilot friend with the assistance of a campground manager. I described what had happened; and he suggested that the plane would still be flyable; knowing that there'd be limited braking power; and to make sure to use the full runway upon return home. He also gave advice as to how to handle slowing down with one brake out. I mentally prepared myself through this.The next day; I walked the length of the runway; and removed several large rocks from the field and the taxiway (tossing them to the non-runway side of the taxiway). I also planned for where I would start my take-off so as to use the smoothest section of runway; and how to approach and turn using the right wheel (which still had braking authority).During pre-flight; I also noticed that the very ends of the propeller blades had some nicks in them. The nicks were toward the very end of each blade. I decided to continue the flight.The return flight was uneventful. On approach to land; I advised Tower that I needed the full runway (Runway XXR was in use); and that I had limited braking power. The landing was smooth. Braking was as expected; and I made a slow uneventful taxi to the hangar; followed by a fire engine.At ZZZ; there were lots of large rocks on the runway and taxiway. A better airport diagram and perhaps more frequent removal of rocks from the field would help other pilots avoid damage to their plane
C182 Pilot reported striking rocks on landing at an unimproved airport; resulting in damage to the braking assembly.