PIPER PA-32-301T near Lansing, MI — 2013-06-19

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to follow the airplane checklist, which resulted in the parking brake not being released before taxi and a subsequent brake fire.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was taxiing the airplane and thought that it needed more power to taxi, so he stopped and shut down the airplane. The pilot exited and saw black smoke from both main landing gear fairings as a result of a brake fire. He attempted to extinguish the fire using a handheld fire extinguisher. The fire continued, and the pilot later called airport rescue firefighting to successfully extinguish the fire. The pilot did not disengage the parking braking before taxiing; he stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had followed the airplane checklist to check the parking brake setting.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

Human factors

First missed decision gate

Check parking brake status before taxiing to prevent fire.

NTSB coding

• Fire/smoke (non-impact) · Taxi-to runway
• Checklist Use

Evidence available

• 1 docket document

Docket documents1

• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form

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