N5909V

Destroyed
Minor

Piper PA32S/N: 32-7740074

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, November 17, 2019
NTSB Number
ERA20CA036
Location
Venice, FL
Event ID
20191118X94748
Coordinates
27.067222, -82.440277
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

A stuck brake caliper, which overheated while the pilot was taxiing the airplane, caught fire, and subsequently destroyed the airplane.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N5909V
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
32-7740074
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1977
Model / ICAO
PA32P32R
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
ANNALITH LLC
Address
761 YALE ST
Status
Deregistered
City
ENGLEWOOD
State / Zip Code
FL 34223-2857
Country
United States

Analysis

The airline transport-rated pilot taxied the airplane .5 miles 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." During the turn, smoke and then fire was seen coming from beneath the airplane. Once the airplane was stopped, the pilot and his passenger smelled smoke and then saw the smoke and fire. 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, and while he expected the caliper to be smoking, he had not anticipated the fire.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA20CA036