# Accident 20210324005739A: Piper PA-32-260, South Burlingto, VT, March 24, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 24, 2021, 16:30 local time
- Place: South Burlingto, VT
- Airport: Burlington International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Run-Up Area
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.4720° N, 73.1533° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4720&lon=-73.1533&mi=10
- Aircraft: N26DC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26DC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-260 (registry code 7103206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA211) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210324005739A

## Narrative

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

WHILE HOLDING SHORT FOR TAKE-OFF ON RUNWAY 15 AT KBTV, A REAR SEATED PASSENGER, FATHER OF THE PILOT AND AN EXPERIENCED PILOT,  NOTICED AN "ELECTRICAL" SMELL. THE PASSENGER TOLD THE PILOT: "DON'T GO". THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER THEN CONFIRMED THE ODOR AND THE PILOT ADVISED TOWER AND TAKE-OFF WAS CANCELLED.

THE TOWER ADVISED THE PILOT TO TAXI SOUTH TO A POINT WHERE THE AIRCRAFT COULD BE OBSERVED. AT THAT POINT TOWER ADVISED THAT SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM UNDER THE RIGHT WING.

THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND ALL OCCUPANTS EVACUATED SAFELY. A SIGNIFICANT FIRE ERUPTED SECONDS AFTER EVACUATION. CFR CREW ARRIVED EXPEDITIOUSLY AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE.

## 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 ERA21LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA211), Mar 24, 2021: Piper PA-32-260 (N26DC), Burlington, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A fire that originated in the right main landing gear brake assembly for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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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