DA20-C1 Eclipse
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 28.4; Flight Crew Total 38; Flight Crew Type 38
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft
Student Pilot soloing to a nearby airport to practice landings under an endorsement from his instructor to fulfill solo requirements in 141 curriculum. Upon landing; student turned right to get off of runway in order to execute his full-stop taxi-back maneuver. When the aircraft did not turn right to his liking after applying full right rudder and differential brake; he shut down the aircraft to realign it and then continued his taxi. Upon reaching the hold short line at the departure runway of this uncontrolled airport; he discovered again that his plane was not turning to satisfaction and after making his entry call to the runway continued across it to the other side whereupon he manually adjusted its position again to get back onto the runway due to its seeming preference for right turns. He then initiated a take-off at which point the aircraft veered sharply to the left. The student pulled throttle to idle and applied full brake pressure; the lack of grabbing action in the right main brake assembly caused the plane to veer even more sharply left; off the runway to the left and into the grass infield. No objects were struck by the plane and the student shut down and exited in a safe and timely fashion. The aircraft was reviewed by a company CFI and Maintenance Technician and returned to service after a change of brake pads. Speculation is that improper use of the braking system over time caused a [glazing] effect on both the pads and rotor that limited the grabbing ability of the system at the time of the incident. No harm came to persons or property; student was quickly and safely retrieved to the point of the flights origin and the aircraft was returned to service that same day.
DA-20 student pilot reported loss of directional control and a runway excursion resulted when the brakes failed to work properly.