# NTSB ERA21LA099: Diamond DA 40, N489RS, Portsmouth, NH, January 3, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 3, 2021, 11:18 local (16:18 UTC) - Place: Portsmouth, NH - Coordinates: 43.077944, -70.823278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0779&lon=-70.8233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA, TSB Canada - NTSB case key (mKey): 102515 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102515/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102515 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA099 ## Probable cause The instructor’s multiple applications of the airplane’s brakes during high-speed taxi over a short duration, which overheated and ignited the right main landing gear wheel brake assembly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis After landing, the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane during the roll, taxied to the hold-short line at the approach end of the runway, and waited for landing traffic. Soon after, the pilot of the landing airplane announced over the tower radio frequency that the airplane holding short was “on fire.” The instructor confirmed that smoke was rising from beneath the right wing and both he and the pilot receiving instruction egressed the airplane without injury. Examination of video revealed fire emanating from the right main landing gear wheel and brake assembly, wheel pant, and involved the right wing, which was substantially damaged. Data downloaded from the airplane’s multifunction display revealed high groundspeeds during taxi after landing, and rapid decelerations consistent with hard braking actions before the airplane reached the hold short line. Postaccident examination revealed normal wear of the brake pads and no pre-accident mechanical anomalies. Examination of the fuel cell directly above the right main landing gear wheel and brake assembly revealed that it was intact with no leaks and contained about 15 gallons of fuel. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the instructor’s high taxi speeds, which required multiple brake applications, resulted in the right brake assembly overheating and catching fire. ## Factual narrative On January 3, 2021, about 1118 eastern standard time, a Diamond Aircraft DA 40, N489RS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. After a short flight, the pilot performed a landing on runway 34. The instructor assumed control of the airplane during the roll, taxied to the hold-short line at the approach end of runway 34, and waited for landing traffic. Soon after, the pilot of the landing airplane announced over the tower radio frequency that the airplane holding short was “on fire.” The instructor confirmed that smoke was rising from beneath the right wing and both he and the pilot egressed the airplane without injury. Video recorded by the pilots before the arrival of aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles showed the right main landing gear tire, wheel pant, landing gear strut, and underside of the right wing in flames. ARFF arrived within 3 minutes of notification and extinguished the fire. The instructor reported that he noticed no anomalies with the performance and handling of the airplane during taxi. He stated that, throughout the taxi back to the hold-short line, the steering forces required and the braking power he experienced were “normal.” The removable SD card from the Garmin G1000 Multifunction Display was undamaged and was downloaded normally. A review of the recorded data revealed that, after landing, the airplane turned right at the first perpendicular taxiway (Bravo) and again turned right onto the parallel taxiway (Alpha). While on taxiway Alpha, the ground speed varied between about 22 and 27 knots. The ground speed indication was displayed to the flight crew. At the start of a right turn where Alpha taxiway turned 90° and intersected the approach end of runway 34, the ground speed was about 23 knots. The ground speed then decreased sharply several times, each time followed by several seconds of constant or slightly increasing ground speed until the data ended, as the airplane neared the hold short line for runway 34. The airplane was recovered to a maintenance facility and examined by a representative of the manufacturer under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector. Examination revealed normal wear of the brake pads and no pre-accident mechanical anomalies. Examination of the fuel tank directly above the right main landing gear wheel and brake assembly revealed that it was intact with no leaks and contained about 15 gallons of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N489RS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N489RS), registered now, S/N 40.379, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond Aircraft DA 40 - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40) (registry code 2990002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 40.379 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 3149.9 - Engines: LYCOMING I0360 MIA 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Avier Flight School - Registered owner: Viage LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 30, 2020 - Departed: BVY, Beverly, MA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KPSM, Portsmouth International, runway 34, 11,322 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 52; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 6,509 total, 32.6 in this make and model, 5,970 as pilot in command, 72.2 in the last 90 days, 7.5 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 375 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KPSM - METAR: KPSM 031626Z 02005KT 10SM OVC022 00/M04 A3018 RMK AO2A SLP224 ## 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 20210103002869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210103002869A), Jan 3, 2021: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Portsmouth, NH, Substantial damage. Pilot statement: this was a Diamond transition flight for the instrument rated private pilot. He has Just transferred to our school and currently rents with… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102515. 23.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12583722&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20fillable%20form_latest_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12584147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Copilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Inspection of brake assembly (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12584272&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N489RS%20Brake%20Fire%20@%20Portsmouth%20Inspection%20Notes_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement brake inspection (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12584620&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N489RS%20-%20Diamond%20Aircraft_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (FAA) (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 461 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12584064&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Photos_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 6, MOV, 19.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12584314&FileExtension=mov&FileName=IMG_2487-Rel.mov - Garmin G1000 data download factual report (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 608 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12613703&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=EFIS_G1000_Download_factual_ERA21LA099_Rayner-Rel.pdf - Garmin G1000 data download factual report - attachment 1 (item 8, CSV, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12613417&FileExtension=csv&FileName=log_210103_103720_KBVY-Rel.csv 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.