# NTSB ANC88FA100: Fairchild SA227-AT, N482SA, Anchorage, AK, July 28, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 27, 1988, 18:17 local (Jul 28, 1988, 02:17 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.16019, -149.990509 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1602&lon=-149.9905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 8 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4960
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88FA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4960/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88FA100

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - to takeoff
  - landing gear,normal brake system - binding(mechanical) (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate aircraft component, manufacturer (cause)
  - proper assistance - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
- Fire, climb
  - landing gear,normal brake system - overtemperature (cause)
  - hydraulic system,fitting - melted (cause)
  - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING THE TAXI TO THE RUNWAY, THE FLIGHT CREW NOTED A VIBRATION IN THE AIRPLANE AND STOPPED TO CHECK THE TIRES, THINKING THAT THEY WERE UNDERINFLATED. NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM WAS SEEN, AND THEY ELECTED TO TAKEOFF. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A FIRE ERUPTED IN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WHEELWELL. THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED SAFELY. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND AILERON CONTROL SYSTEM. EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKES REVEALED A COCKED THERMAL INSULATOR IN THE PISTON BORE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE BRAKES WERE WORN, HAD BEEN DRAGING, THEN OVERHEATED; AND THAT THE TIRES HAD EXPLODED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DAMAGE INDICATED THAT THE FIRE HAD STARTED NEAR THE BRAKES. AN ALUMINUM FITTING WAS USED AS PART OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE STEEL BRAKE HOUSING. THE EXAM INDICATED THAT THE FITTING HAD BEEN INSTALLED BUT COULD NOT BE FOUND AFTER THE FIRE. THE CREW SAID THAT THEY DELAYED LOWERING THE GEAR, IN CONTRADICTION TO THE CHECKLIST REQUIREMENT WHEN THE WHEELWELL AND WING OVERHEAT LIGHT IS ON.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N482SA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SA227-AT
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AC-482
- Airframe hours: 10546
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-1146 1000 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Peninsula Airways, doing business as Peninsula Airways
- Registered owner: Plm International, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 24, 1988, 70 hours before
- Destination: DLG, DILLINGHAM, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ANC, Anchorage Int'L, runway 14, 10,496 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,800 total, 2,650 in this make and model, 12,700 as pilot in command, 293 in the last 90 days, 145 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANC

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880727033769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880727033769A), Jul 27, 1988: Swrngn SA227AT, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Overheat light for left wheel well on climbout. Landed safely. Worn brake puck. Holder friction caused fire in wing

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.

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