# Accident 20070425007589A: Piper PA32300, Richmond, VA, April 25, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 25, 2007, 13:45 local time
- Place: Richmond, VA
- Airport: Richmond International - Byrd Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.5053° N, 77.3197° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5053&lon=-77.3197&mi=10
- Aircraft: N679DM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N679DM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32300
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 120 total, 20 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC07LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA104) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070425007589A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN HOLDING SHORT OF RUNWAY 20 FOR APPROX. 1.5 MINUTES, WHEN ANOTHER AIRCRAFT REPORTED A FIRE IN THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL. ALL THREE OCCUPANTS EVACUTED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURIES, AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE AIRPORT FIRE AND RESCUE TEAM. A POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL FIRE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING INBOARD SECTION. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE WHEEL AND BRAKE FRICTION, DURING A LONG TAXI FROM THE FBO TO THE TAKEOFF POSITION, DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PRACTICES DURING A RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION. SPECIFICALLY, THE INNER AXLE SPACER WAS LEFT OUT, ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO RIDE TOO FAR INBOARD, THEREFORE ALLOWING THE TIRE TO RUB ON THE WHEEL FAIRING AND ITS BACKING PLATE, AND THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY CALIPER SPACER/INSULATOR WAS ALSO LEFT OUT, CAUSING THE CALIPER HALVES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE BRAKE PADS TO APPLY TOO MUCH FRICTION TO THE BRAKE DISK, WITH THE BRAKES RELAXED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC07LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA104), Apr 25, 2007: Piper PA-32-300 (N679DM), Richmond, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper installation of the right brake assembly by maintenance personnel.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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