What happened
While stopped at the hold short line in preparation for takeoff, the pilot observed fire originating from underneath the right wing of the aircraft. The pilot immediately requested assistance from Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) personnel and evacuated the airplane. The fire was subsequently extinguished by emergency responders.
The investigation
Post-incident examination determined that the fire did not originate from the wing itself, but rather from the right wheel assembly. Detailed inspection of the wheel assembly revealed that the brake seals were worn and the reservoir contained no brake fluid. Additionally, investigators found that the brake linings and discs were badly scoured. Records indicated that the brake pads had not been replaced in more than 400 hours. It was also noted that the master brake cylinder had been replaced eight days prior to the accident during an annual inspection.