Citation jet flight crew reported a wheel fire during taxi. Flight crew requested airport fire response crews and passengers were evacuated.
Synopsis
Citation jet flight crew reported a wheel fire during taxi. Flight crew requested airport fire response crews and passengers were evacuated.
Narrative
We received fuel at the FBO in ZZZ and had to burn off approximately 200lbs to get within our takeoff limitations. We called for taxi from the FBO and advised ground control that we needed to hold before making our way to runway XXL. The instructions given to us were to taxi to the 1 taxi area via 2; 3; 4; cross runway XY/XZ and hold at 1 and advise when ready to continue taxiing. We followed the instructions and began our taxi to the 1 taxiway. Once there; we set the parking brake and put the throttles between 70-80% N1 to burn fuel. We had the barking brake set for about two minutes before we were within limits for the takeoff weight. We began to taxi again after advising ground control that we were ready to depart. The plane felt sluggish while taxiing so we advised ground that we needed to stop the plane and check. We did not see any smoke at this time and no visible flames so we decided to continue taxiing; but the plane continued to show signs of a possible flat tire. We stopped the plane again and that is when we witnessed white smoke coming from the wheels. The captain called for an evacuation of the plane and I called for fire crews to come out to taxiway 1. We safely evacuated all passengers and crew and waited for the fires to be extinguished.
Second reporter narrative
We needing to burn fuel before takeoff; so; ask to be taxi in an area to burn fuel. We were given instruction to taxi to the 1 pad via taxiway 2; 3; 4; cross runway XY and [taxiway] 1. We taxi in the 1 pad; set the breaks raise the power to approximately 75% N1. We burn approximately 240 lb of fuel. When we reached our take limit; we contact ground and asked for taxi instruction to runway XXL. Shortly after we started taxing the wheel felt sluggish. I asked to returned to the papa pad and evaluate the situation. We did not observed anything unusual; we asked to continue to taxi. Upon our 2nd taxi attempt the tire continue to feel sluggish we stopped; open the cabin door; observed smoke coming from the wheel and fire shortly after that. We called for fire trucks; shut the airplane down and evacuate the aircraft.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.