# NTSB ERA21LA211: Piper PA-32-260, N26DC, Burlington, VT, March 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 24, 2021, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Burlington, VT · On taxiway - Coordinates: 44.471955, -73.153276 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4720&lon=-73.1533&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103041 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103041/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103041 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA211 ## 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. ## 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 · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=7103206), [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: [Piper PA-32-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after a series of full stop landings he was holding short of a runway when he smelled a burning odor, and air traffic control tower personnel observed a fire on the right main landing gear assembly. The pilot and passengers evacuated the airplane, and the fire was subsequently extinguished by airport fire rescue personnel. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the right wing. Disassembly and examination of the right brake and wheel revealed extensive fire damage to the assembly, which precluded the ability to determine the reason for the fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26DC), registered now, S/N 32-64, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-64 - Year built: 1965 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2020 - Destination: VSF, Springfield, VT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BTV, Burlington Intl - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: BTV ## 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 20210324005739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210324005739A), Mar 24, 2021: Piper PA-32-260, South Burlingto, VT, Substantial damage. 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.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103041. 15.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 9.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12353055&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12513406&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=A_FAA%20statement%20N26DC_Redacted-Rel%20(1)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12364639&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N26DC%20maintenace%20logbook%20excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12352887&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20N26DC-Rel.pdf 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.