Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket
Accident Number: ERA20CA036
Date & Time: November 17, 2019, 13:37 Local
Registration: N5909V
Aircraft: Piper PA32
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot taxied the airplane 0.5 mile to the hold-short line at the departure runway where he intended to complete an engine run-up. According to the pilot, the right brake "didn't feel right" as he approached the hold-short line, so he completed a 360° turn to "test the brakes at a higher than normal speed," and the right brake failed. During the turn and once the pilot stopped the airplane, he and the passenger smelled smoke and then saw smoke and fire coming from beneath the airplane. After the pilot and passenger safely egressed the cockpit, the airplane was destroyed by fire. The pilot stated that he thought the brake caliper was stuck, which likely led to the brake caliper catching fire.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A stuck brake caliper, which overheated while the pilot was taxiing the airplane, caught fire, and subsequently destroyed the airplane.
Findings
Aircraft Brake - Malfunction
Factual Information
History of Flight
Taxi-to runway Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) (Defining event)
Taxi-to runway Fire/smoke (non-impact)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 61, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: BasicMed None
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/04/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 1000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 35 hours (Total, this make and model), 1000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N5909V
Model/Series: PA32 300
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1977
Amateur Built:No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 32-7740074
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/04/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3400 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 9 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4039.91 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: TI0-540 SER
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 300 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KVNC, 19 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1335 EST
Direction from Accident Site: 3°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 50°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.06 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 16°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Venice, FL (VNC)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: North Eleuthera, CB (MYEH)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: EST
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: VENICE MUNI (VNC)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 17 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 05
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5000 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 27.067222, -82.440278
VENICE — Police at the Venice Airport terminal said they heard an explosion and then saw black smoke coming from the runway Sunday afternoon.
Airport firefighters were dispatched to an aircraft fire at the end of a runway at around 12:36 p.m., according to the Sarasota County 911 dispatch log.
A small aircraft was on Runway 5 at the Venice Municipal Airport headed for takeoff when the pilot smelled smoke in the Piper PA-32 Cherokee 6, a single engine six-seater, prompting both him and his passenger to exit the plane, according to City of Venice spokesperson Lorraine Anderson. The aircraft then became fully engulfed in flames shortly afterward.
Both male occupants of the aircraft escaped injury, according to Airport Director Mark Cervasio.
The 2019 Chalk Festival is being held this weekend (Nov. 15-18) at the Venice Airport closer to Tamiami Trail about a mile away from the scene of the aircraft emergency.
A photographer at the scene said when they approached the 1900 block of Harbor Drive South, there were bystanders in cars lining both sides of the road watching the plane burn. Multiple fire trucks, two ambulances and at least a dozen police cars assisted at the scene. A witness who saw the small plane on fire said that it seemed to occur at the end of the runway located across from Brohard Dog Beach.
Venice Fire arrived on scene to extinguish the blaze, assisted by the Sarasota County Fire Department and the County Hazmat team. Venice Police are also on scene.
According to Fire Battalion Chief Steve Worobel, the plane was full of fuel at 80 gallons. Hazmat was able to recover and mitigate 30 gallons of fuel at the scene.
Airport officials will investigate.
The Sarasota County Emergency Services said the fire is under control.
The cabin of the plane appeared to have significant damage, while the tail and prop were still in tact. Venice Police were interviewing two people in plain clothes nearby.
Story and video ➤ https://www.heraldtribune.com
VENICE, Florida (WWSB) - Emergency crews have responded to an active airplane fire at the Venice Airport.
The fire took place around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Reports say that the pilot and his passenger were headed to take off when the pilot smelled smoke. He and his passenger exited and the plane became fully engulfed in flames shortly afterward.
There were not any injuries from this incident.
Story and video ➤ https://www.mysuncoast.com
What luck ... Would have been bad news if in the air.
ReplyDeleteWill be interesting to see what they find assuming enough was left to find anything.
My money is on the battery and or battery cables. It appears the fire started in the rear seat area. Very lucky to get out alive.
ReplyDelete