# NTSB MIA97LA067: Grumman American AA-5B, N81307, Salisbury, NC, January 19, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 19, 1997, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Salisbury, NC - Coordinates: 35.660518, -80.479827 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6605&lon=-80.4798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38207/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA067 ## Probable cause continued operation of the aircraft by the flight instructor (CFI) and student after identifying a brake problem, which resulted in a fire that erupted from the brake system and subsequently destroyed the aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - from landing - landing gear,normal brake system - worn (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, flightcrew (cause) - landing gear,normal brake system - overtemperature (cause) - Fire, standing - landing gear,normal brake system - fire (cause) ## Analysis During taxi back for takeoff after landing, the aircraft was pulling to the left, and the student pilot believed the left brake was sticking. The flight instructor (CFI) took control of the aircraft. He stopped, got out, and checked the tires, which he found properly inflated. The CFI then taxied up and down the taxiway several times. The CFI and student then elected to fly the aircraft back to the departure airport, since a mechanic was not available at their location. Before starting their takeoff, they observed smoke coming from the left main gear. After shutting down the engine and exiting the aircraft, they found the left main gear was on fire. The fire spread and destroyed the aircraft. Postcrash examination of the left main gear brake pads and disk showed the pads were worn past the point of the pad retaining rivets. A piece of pad had broken off, and the disk had deep grooves cut into it. The wheel bearings showed no evidence of failure. ## Factual narrative On January 19, 1997, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Grumman AA-5B, N81307, registered to Pyramid Scaffold Service, Inc., had a wheel fire during taxi for takeoff at Rowan County Airport, Salisbury, North Carolina, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the commercial-rated flight instructor and dual student were not injured. The flight originated from Concord, North Carolina, the same day, about 1545. The dual student stated they landed on runway 20 at Rowan County Airport and started to taxi back to the departure end for takeoff. During taxi he had to hold right rudder and brake to maintain taxiway center line. He mentioned to the instructor that he thought the left brake was sticking. The instructor took the controls and thought they had a flat tire. They stopped on the taxiway and the instructor got out and checked the tires, which appeared normal. The instructor got back in and taxied the aircraft about 2,000 feet toward the departure end of the runway and then did a 180-degree turn and taxied back about 2,000 feet. He then did another 180-degree turn and taxied to the hold short line at the departure end of runway 20. The drag on the left wheel was less at higher speeds and they knew a mechanic was not available to look at the aircraft so they decided to return to the departure airport. As they were stopped they observed smoke coming from the left main gear wheel pant. They shut down the aircraft and got out. They observed the left main wheel was on fire. Attempts to put the fire out with a canopy cover were unsuccessful, and the fire spread and destroyed the aircraft. Postaccident examination of the left and right landing gear wheel bearings, brake pads and brake disc was performed by NTSB. The left and right brake calipers were destroyed by the fire. The left wheel bearings had sustained some fire damage and had fire debris in the rollers. The bearings did rotate slightly and the rollers had no damage consistent with overheating or failure during operation. The left brake pads were worn to the point the attaching rivets were exposed and worn down and a piece of one pad had broken off. The left brake disk had deep grooves cut into it. Examination of the right landing gear wheel bearings showed they had no damage consistent with overheating or failure during operation. The right brake pads had no damage from operation and had an acceptable amount of pad remaining. The right brake disc had normal wear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81307](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81307-1998-08-31), registration cancelled 1998-08-31, S/N AA5B0490 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AA-5B - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA5B0490 - Airframe hours: 3007 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Jonathan K. Lane - Registered owner: Pyramid Scaffold Services, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 19, 1996, 12 hours before - Departed: 3N8, CONCORD, NC - Destination: RUQ - Airport: RUQ, Rowan County, runway 20, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,770 total, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CLT, 35 nm away ## 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 19970119000669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970119000669A), Jan 19, 1997: Amrgen AA5B, Salisbury, NC, Destroyed. Aircraft landed and was taxiing when a brake caught fire. (-23) after landing, aircraft was taxiing on taxiway when brakes caught fire. Fire spread to the… 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.