On February 5, 2021, about 1445 central standard time, a Columbia LC42-550FG airplane, N115FP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Pawnee County Airport (LQR), Larned, Kansas. The private pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. After conducting a preflight check, the pilot (who was the owner of the airplane) started the engine about 1415, taxied on the airplane to runway 35, and began the takeoff about 1430. After the airplane reached liftoff speed, the pilot felt a “strong” gust of wind and sensed a “stickiness of the plane on the runway.” The pilot stated that this situation was “not normal” and unlike anything that he had experienced while operating the airplane. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff with intermittent braking and reduce thrust to idle.

After the aborted takeoff, the pilot taxied the airplane to the runup area for runway 17 and checked the airplane’s flight controls and systems. The pilot reported that “everything inside the cockpit, and what I could see outside appeared and felt normal.” About 1445, the pilot began a takeoff roll on runway 17. The pilot noticed that the airplane was again “sticking to the runway,” so he decided to abort the takeoff. He applied intermittent braking and stated that, about 10 to 20 yards from the departure end of runway 17, the brakes “faded.” The airplane then rolled into a dry grassy area south of the runway. The airplane came to a stop, and the pilot smelled and saw smoke rising behind the right wing. The pilot advanced the throttle enough to move the airplane into a field beyond the runway and shut down the engine.

The pilot exited the airplane and saw that the left and right main landing gear were on fire. The passenger then exited the airplane, and the pilot used onboard fire extinguishers to try to contain the fire. Fire trucks arrived and extinguished the fire on the airplane and the nearby grass.

The pilot reported that the engine and flight controls were operating normally during both takeoff attempts. The airplane came to rest on a 156º magnetic heading about 250 ft southeast of the end of runway 17. Both main landing gear wheel assemblies, brakes, wheel pants, strut coverings, and brake lines sustained severe fire damage. The underside of the left wing and fuselage were scorched, as shown in the figure below, resulting in structural damage to the left wing.

Figure. Fire damage to the main wheel assemblies and underside of the left wing (Source: Federal Aviation Administration).

Detailed examination of the airplane showed that both main landing gear brake and wheel assemblies had severe fire damage. The fire appeared to originate from the wheel brakes. Both brake and wheel assemblies were examined and found to be mechanically intact with no anomalies (other than the severe fire damage). The parking brake was not engaged. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces. The airplane was determined to be under its maximum gross takeoff weight.