# NTSB NYC05LA131: Cirrus Design SR20, N915DJ, Farmingdale, NJ, August 7, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2005, 13:03 local (17:03 UTC) - Place: Farmingdale, NJ - Coordinates: 40.186943, -74.124725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1869&lon=-74.1247&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Cirrus Design Corp., FAA FSDO-25 - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-05-77](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-05-77), [SAIB CE-06-30](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-06-30) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 62171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62171/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA131 ## Probable cause A fire that originated at the right main landing gear brake caliper and piston, during taxi, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, taxi - to takeoff - landing gear,normal brake system - fire (cause) ## Analysis While the pilot was taxiing the airplane to a runway, it pulled to the right. As she stopped the airplane to perform a run-up, the pilot observed smoke emanating from the right wing. The pilot shut down the engine and exited the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed that a fire originated at the right main landing gear brake piston and caliper, and the hydraulic brake fluid served as fuel for the fire. The fire consumed a significant portion of the right wing, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2005, at 1303 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR20, N915DJ, was substantially damaged while taxiing at Monmouth Executive Airport (BLM), Farmingdale, New Jersey. The certificated flight instructor was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight destined for Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU), Morristown, New Jersey. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that while she was taxiing the airplane to the runway, it pulled to the right. As she stopped the airplane to perform a run-up, smoke was observed from the right wing. The pilot shut down the engine and exited the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that a fire appeared to originate near the right brake, and consumed a significant portion of the right wing, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. Further examination of the airplane by a representative from Cirrus Design Corp. revealed that the soot residue was consistent with the fire originating at the right main landing gear brake piston and caliper, and the hydraulic brake fluid serving as fuel for the fire. Review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that the most recent annual inspection was completed on March 22, 2005. In addition, a 50-hour inspection was completed on June 27, 2005. Review of the maintenance records did not reveal any previous anomalies with the braking system. Twelve days prior to the accident, the FAA published Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-05-77. Review of the bulletin revealed: "Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises you, owners and operators of Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) Model SR20 or SR22 airplanes, of possible loss of left or right braking. Background We have two known occurrences in 2005 of leaking hydraulic fluid from the right brake caliper. One airplane lost directional control and hit another airplane. In the other occurrence, the hydraulic fluid caught fire at the caliper causing significant fire damage. Discussion Examination of these brakes has shown discoloration of the calipers due to heat and hydraulic fluid leaks at the caliper piston. We believe the piston seal temperature was too hot. Helical propwash with a free castering nose wheel leads to occasional right braking during taxi for directional control. This may result in more heat and wear on the right pads than on the left... Recommendation The current preflight walk-around in the Pilot's Operating Handbook includes an inspection of the wheel and brakes for "Fluid Leaks, Condition, and Security". We recommend the preflight walk-around include a close inspection of the ground and wheel fairing of each main gear for leaking hydraulic fluid (as stated in the service advisory)..." Review of the Safety Board's database revealed three additional similar events with Cirrus airplanes: March 7, 2005, LAX05LA109, N517SW August 5, 2005, MIA05LA143, N513CD December 9, 2005, DFW06LA038, N302BY On December 15, 2005, Cirrus Design Corp. issued optional Service Bulletin (SB) 2X-32-13, Wheel Conversion and Brake Upgrade. The purpose of the SB was to improve braking operations by increasing brake lining service life and energy absorbing capacity. On January 18, 2006, Cirrus Design Corp. issued mandatory SB 2X-32-14, Main Landing Gear Fairing Modification for Inspection Hole. The purpose of the SB was to provide for the installation of temperature indicators on the brake assemblies and modification of the main landing gear fairings to include inspection holes that facilitate monitoring brake assembly temperature. The SB also contained instructions for trimming the main landing gear fairings to provide for additional clearance, and revising the Pilot's Operating Handbook. On February 9, 2006, the FAA issued SAIB CE-06-30, which advised owners and operators of Cirrus airplanes about the two new service bulletins. On May 8, 2006, the FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for an airworthiness directive (AD). The proposed AD would make the service bulletins mandatory for all U.S. operators of Cirrus SR-20 and SR-22 airplanes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N915DJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N915DJ), registered now, S/N 1168, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cirrus Design Corp. SR20 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20) (registry code 2130000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1168 - Airframe hours: 1069 - Engines: Continental IO-360-ES 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cerified Flyers II - Registered owner: Quinn EIR LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 1, 2005, 32 hours before - Departed: BLM, Farmingdale, NJ - Destination: MMU, Morristown, NJ - Airport: BLM, Monmouth Executive Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 612 total, 57 in this make and model, 529 as pilot in command, 256 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: BLM ## 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 20050807024849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050807024849A), Aug 7, 2005: Cirrus SR20, Belmar/Farmingd, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) N915DJ was parked near the approach end of runway 14 in preparation for engine run-up when the pilot [privacy data omitted] noticed the odor of smoke in… 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.