Diamond DA 40 N489RS

Summary

On 3 January 2021 at about 16:18 local time, a Diamond DA 40 registered N489RS, operated by Avier Flight School, was involved in an accident near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 January 2021 at 16:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States

Nearest airport

Portsmouth International (KPSM)

Coordinates

43.0779, -70.8233

Aircraft

Diamond DA 40

Registration

N489RS

Category

Airplane

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Avier Flight School

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beverly → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA099

Nobody was injured.

The instructor’s multiple applications of the airplane’s brakes during high-speed taxi over a short duration, which overheated and ignited the right main landing gear wheel brake assembly.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After landing, the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane during the roll, taxied to the hold-short line at the approach end of the runway, and waited for landing traffic. Soon after, the pilot of the landing airplane announced over the tower radio frequency that the airplane holding short was “on fire.” The instructor confirmed that smoke was rising from beneath the right wing and both he and the pilot receiving instruction egressed the airplane without injury. Examination of video revealed fire emanating from the right main landing gear wheel and brake assembly, wheel pant, and involved the right wing, which was substantially damaged. Data downloaded from the airplane’s multifunction display revealed high groundspeeds during taxi after landing, and rapid decelerations consistent with hard braking actions before the airplane reached the hold short line. Postaccident examination revealed normal wear of the brake pads and no pre-accident mechanical anomalies. Examination of the fuel cell directly above the right main landing gear wheel and brake assembly revealed that it was intact with no leaks and contained about 15 gallons of fuel. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the instructor’s high taxi speeds, which required multiple brake applications, resulted in the right brake assembly overheating and catching fire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.