# NTSB MIA01LA079: Piper PA-32-300, N15635, Lakeland, FL, February 15, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 15, 2001, 10:59 local (15:59 UTC) - Place: Lakeland, FL - Coordinates: 27.988889, -82.018608 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9889&lon=-82.0186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51747 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51747/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA079 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to disengage the parking brake prior to taxi and his failure to stop and investigate the brakes when they malfunctioned during taxi for takeoff resulting in the wheel brakes heating and starting the tires on fire. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, taxi - parking brakes - not removed, pilot in command (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,normal brake system - overtemperature - landing gear,normal brake system - fire ## Analysis The pilot stated that as he taxied for takeoff, the left brake grabbed. Upon reaching the end of the runway, the left brake was still grabbing and he elected to return to the maintenance company where he had picked up the airplane. During taxi back to the maintenance company the brakes failed and he continued to taxi using the "emergency brake." As he approached the ramp, he smelled smoke and shutdown the engine. A tire blew out and as he exited the airplane, the other tire blew out. He saw both main landing gear tires were on fire. Personnel from the maintenance company extinguished the fire. A mechanic stated that when he looked in the airplane after the accident, the parking brake was pulled on about 3/4. The mechanic stated that when he disassembled the brakes after the accident, he found no discrepancies that would have caused the brakes to drag. ## Factual narrative On February 15, 2001, about 1059 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N15635, registered to an individual, had both main landing gear brakes catch fire during taxi, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial and the private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that after picking up the airplane from a maintenance company, he taxied to the runway with a passenger and took off. On takeoff, the left wheel brake grabbed a little and then let go almost immediately. He flew locally and returned to the airport, where he dropped off his passenger. He again taxied to the runway to fly to Vero Beach, Florida. During taxi, he felt the left brake grab again. He taxied to the end of the runway and when the left brake again grabbed, he elected to return to the maintenance company. The brakes failed and he began using the "emergency brake." As he approached the ramp at the maintenance company, he smelled smoke. He shut down the airplane's engine and heard a tire blow out. He got out of the airplane, at which time the second tire blew out. He saw both landing gear brakes on fire. Personnel from the maintenance company came to the airplane with fire extinguishers and put out the brake fires. The mechanic from the maintenance company stated he had performed a oil change and checked the condition of the brakes and battery. When the pilot taxied back to the ramp, he observed that both main tires were on fire. He got a fire bottle and put out the fires. When he opened the cabin door after the fires were out, he noticed the parking brake was pulled on to about 3/4. After the accident, while repairing the airplane for the pilot, he disassembled the left and right brake assemblies under the supervision of a Lakeland Police Department Aviation Officer. They found no discrepancies that would have caused the brakes to drag or lock prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15635](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15635-2011-09-26), registration cancelled 2011-09-26, S/N 32-7340054, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7340054 - Airframe hours: 2549 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dale Grinstead - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LAL, Lakeland, FL - Destination: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Airport: LAL, Lakeland Linder Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 30, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 304 total, 299 in this make and model, 236 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: LAL ## 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 20010215002129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010215002129A), Feb 15, 2001: Piper PA32300, Lakeland, FL, No damage. (-23) Pilot took delivery of a/c after a 50 hour inspection was performed by aeromech, inc. taxied for takeoff with passenger on board. Pilot states that he… ## Other investigations on N15635 (2) 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 MIA94LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA066), Feb 3, 1994: Piper PA-32-300 (N15635), Tamarac, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED CAUSES. - [NTSB CHI77FEP39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEP39), Jun 17, 1977: Piper PA-32 (N15635), Madison, WI, substantial damage 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.