What happened
On March 3, 1998, a Robin DR 400 - 140 B, registration F-GEID, was involved in a landing gear fire at Le Puy aerodrome. The aircraft, operated by a flying club, had just completed a landing on runway 33. While performing a turnaround at the end of the runway to rejoin the taxiway, witnesses observed flames emerging from the left main landing gear.
Upon being notified by the air traffic controller, the pilot immediately brought the aircraft to a halt, shut off the electrical and fuel systems, and evacuated the three occupants. During the evacuation, the fire spread along the landing gear strut fairing and ignited the wing cladding. The fire was eventually suppressed by bystanders using fire extinguishers.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the origin of the ignition and the spread of the fire. Investigators examined the interior of the right main landing gear fairing, which remained undamaged by the fire. This inspection revealed a significant accumulation of sandy soil and dried grass inside the gear assembly.
Findings
- The primary cause of the fire was the accumulation of debris, specifically a mixture of sand and dried grass, within the landing gear fairings.
- It was determined that sandy deposits projected onto the brake blocks likely generated sparks, which subsequently ignited the dried vegetation.
- The fire was able to spread more effectively once the aircraft had come to a complete stop and the propeller wash was no longer blowing the flames away from the gear area.
- The aircraft's home base, which utilizes only grass runways, likely contributed to the buildup of such debris.