Purpose Of The Flight Was To Conduct “Transition Training” In The Airplane

Location: Portsmouth, NH Accident Number: ERA21LA099
Date & Time: January 3, 2021, 11:18 Local Registration: N489RS
Aircraft: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40 Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

On January 3, 2021, about 1118 eastern standard time, a Diamond Aircraft DA 40, N489RS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM), Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The flight instructor and the pilot-rated student were not injured.

The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The purpose of the flight was to conduct “transition training” in the airplane for the pilot. After a short flight, the pilot performed a landing on runway 34 at PSM. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane during the rollout, taxied to the hold-short line at the approach end of runway 34 and waited for landing traffic. Soon after, the pilot of the landing airplane announced over the tower radio frequency that the airplane holding short was “on fire.”

The flight instructor confirmed that smoke was rising from beneath the right wing and both he and the pilot egressed the airplane without injury. Video recorded by the pilots prior to the arrival of Air Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles showed the right main landing gear tire, wheel pant, landing gear strut, and underside of the right wing in flames. ARFF arrived within 3 minutes of notification and extinguished the fire.

The flight instructor reported that he noticed no anomalies with the performance and handling of the airplane during taxi. He stated that throughout the taxi back to the hold-short line, the steering forces required and the braking power he experienced were “normal.”

The airplane was recovered to a maintenance facility at PSM and retained for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov