Pilot Debrief

COLUMBIA AIRCRAFT MFG LC41 550FG near Oro Valley, AZ — 2017-11-27

Final reportWPR18LA037
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Date
2017-11-27
Location
Oro Valley, AZ, USA
Airport
57AZ
Aircraft
COLUMBIA AIRCRAFT MFG LC41 550FG
Registration
N2526C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The inadequate cooling time between repeated heavy braking applications, which resulted in the brakes overheating and a subsequent brake fire during the aborted takeoff sequence.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the engine surged during an attempted takeoff, and she aborted the takeoff. She let the engine idle for about 5 minutes and then attempted another takeoff. However, the engine surged again. The pilot applied the brakes and aborted the second takeoff. As the pilot was trying to determine the problem and was planning to taxi back to the hangar, the airplane started rolling across the runway and the pilot lost braking capability. The airplane rolled across and off the runway into a ditch. The brakes caught fire which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that the airplane was at its maximum gross weight at the time of the accident. The pilot operating handbook for the accident airplane stated that after heavy braking, especially when the airplane is near gross weight, the pilot should allow the brakes to cool for about 20 minutes before additional heavy braking, as the brakes may overheat. It is likely that due to insufficient time to allow the brakes to cool, during the second aborted takeoff sequence, the brakes overheated, which resulted in a brake fire and led to the pilot's loss of braking capability.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen not to attempt a second takeoff after the first engine surge.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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