FTW01LA102

The pilot boarded the experimental acrobatic aircraft after completion of an annual inspection, started the engine, and began to taxi from the ramp. About half-way down the taxiway, she noticed that she was using "a lot" of power to taxi downwind. During the taxi, the "brakes seemed to be okay" as they assisted directional control "normally" during turns. The pilot then stopped and turned into the wind to see if the parking brake was engaged. The brake handle was not "out" (on) so she pulled it out and tapped the brakes several times to release it. After calling on UNICOM frequency for assistance, she started to taxi back to the hangar. Just prior to reaching the ramp, the right brake failed. The aircraft turned left and the pilot stopped the aircraft. As airport personnel approached the aircraft, the pilot shut down the engine and saw smoke coming from the right side of the aircraft. She exited the aircraft and attempted to use a fire extinguisher on the wheel that was in flames. The fire did not extinguish, so both she and the airport personnel backed away as the aircraft was consumed by the fire. The fire damage was too extensive to discern specific anomalies with the normal and parking brake systems.

On April 23, 2001, at 1245 central daylight time, a CAP 232 experimental acrobatic airplane, N232DG, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed when it caught fire while taxiing at the Laporte Municipal Airport, Laporte, Texas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, evacuated the burning aircraft and was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in charge, the pilot stated that she was retrieving her airplane after an annual inspection. A lineman pushed (by hand) the aircraft from a hangar and had it fueled. She then boarded, started the engine, and began to taxi from the ramp. About half-way down the taxiway, toward the departure end of the runway, she noticed that she was using "a lot" of power to taxi downwind. During the taxi, the "brakes seemed to be okay" as they assisted directional control "normally" during turns. The pilot then stopped and turned into the wind to see if the parking brake was engaged. The brake handle was not "out" (on) so she pulled it out and tapped the brakes to release it, repeating the procedure "4 or 5 times." After calling on UNICOM frequency for assistance, she started to taxi back to the hangar.

Just prior to reaching the ramp, the right brake failed. The aircraft turned left and the pilot stopped the aircraft. As airport personnel approached the aircraft on a golf cart, the pilot shut down the engine and saw smoke coming from the right side of the aircraft. She exited the aircraft and attempted to use a fire extinguisher on the wheel that was in flames. The fire did not extinguish, so both she and the airport personnel backed away as the aircraft was consumed by the fire.

The fire damage was too extensive to discern specific anomalies with the normal and parking brake systems.