Service difficulty report · Brake Assy · Dhav DHC8*

Difficulty date
February 26, 2006
Submitted
June 6, 2006
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Dhav DHC8*
Engine
Pwa PW123
Propeller
Hamstd 14SF23
Part
Brake Assy
Part number
21599
Condition
Leaking
Location
Rt Mlg
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
K, A
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

BRAKES ON RT MLG CAUGHT FIRE DURING LANDING AND CAUSED A 'FLASH FIRE'. FIRE WAS CAUSED BY FLUID LEAKING FROM BRAKE UNIT AND COMING INTO CONTACT WITH HOT BRAKING SURFACE. AN OFF-DUTY PILOT WITNESSED INCIDENT FROM PAX CABIN AND REPORTED FIRE WAS A 'FLASH BALL' THAT EXTINGUISHED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. A/C’S FWD MOTION AND PROP WASH BLEW SMOKE AND FLAMES AFT. BOTH TIRES BLEW, FIRE DEPART WERE ON SCENE APPROX 3 MINS AFTER INCIDENT AND COOLED GEAR DOWN, INITIALLY WITH A MIST AND THEN WITH A SPRAY AND THEN A FAN WAS USED TO FURTHER REDUCE TEMP. TEMP READING TAKEN APPROX 23 MINS AFTER INCIDENT SHOWED 350 DEGREES F. A TEMP READING TAKEN A FURTHER 10 MINS LATER SHOWED 240 DEGREES F. A VISUAL INSPECTION OF LWR END OF DR