Incident Overview
On July 3, 2015, at 16:06 local time, a Robin DR400-180R with registration F-GAHH experienced an accident at Bourges Aerodrome in France. The aircraft was operated by a club for general aviation purposes and was on a ferry flight to Montluçon-Guéret following maintenance work. The sole occupant was the pilot, who survived the incident. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Sequence of Events
The pilot initiated the takeoff roll from runway 06 after completing engine tests. Approximately thirty seconds into the acceleration phase, the pilot noticed that the aircraft was not accelerating normally and decided to abort the takeoff. During this maneuver, the Air Traffic Information Service (AFIS) agent reported a fire starting on the left main landing gear. The pilot evacuated the aircraft immediately after it came to a stop. The fire rapidly spread, destroying nearly the entire airframe within three minutes.
Investigation Findings
The investigation focused on the braking system, which uses a central handle to apply brakes to both main wheels simultaneously. The pilot had used this handle multiple times during taxiing and alignment. It is probable that when released, the handle did not fully release pressure in the hydraulic circuit, resulting in low-level residual symmetrical braking. This condition was difficult for the pilot to detect. Combined with a long taxi distance of 1,550 meters and high ambient temperatures of 35°C, this likely caused overheating of the left main gear, leading to the fire. The AFIS agent's timely warning allowed the pilot to recognize the emergency and evacuate safely.