Pilot Debrief

LEARJET INC 60 near Salt Lake City, UT — 2018-06-26

Final reportANC18LA049
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Date
2018-06-26
Location
Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Airport
SLC
Aircraft
LEARJET INC 60
Registration
N57
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Taxi

Probable cause

The flight crew’s failure to fully disengage the parking brake before taxi, which resulted in a brake fire.

NTSB narrative

The pilots reported that, while taxiing to the runway for departure, the nose wheel steering seemed unusually sensitive and the airplane pulled slightly to the right. As they neared the runway threshold, they smelled what they thought to be overheated brakes. The crew confirmed the position of the parking brake handle, which had not been fully stowed, and once the handle was completely stowed (parking brake OFF position), the airplane moved more freely. The crew then cancelled their takeoff clearance and taxied the airplane to the runup area to allow the brakes to cool. Shortly thereafter, the control tower notified the flight crew that the airplane was on fire. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage and right wing due to fire that originated at the right main landing gear. A detailed examination of the airplane’s brake system revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the cockpit voice recorder information confirmed that the crew did not completely release the parking brake before taxi.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Crew could have ensured parking brake was fully released before taxiing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • CVR
  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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