Accident Shorts 360-100 N617FB,

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 320936

Date:	Thursday 17 May 2012
Time:	07:15
Type:	Shorts 360-100
Owner/operator:	Air Cargo Carriers
Registration:	N617FB
MSN:	SH.3617
Year of manufacture:	1983
Total airframe hrs:	27504 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AR
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Substantial, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TX (IAH) - United States of America
Phase:	Taxi
Nature:	Cargo
Departure airport:	Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TX (IAH/KIAH)
Destination airport:	Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, TX (AUS/KAUS)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
A Shorts 360, N617FB, was substantially damaged following a wheel brake fire during taxi at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas. The airline transport pilot and commercial co-pilot were not injured. The airplane was taxiing to position for takeoff from runway 8R and its intended destination was Austin, Texas.

The flight crew reported that the airplane was about 60 pounds over its maximum weight for takeoff. Since their taxi to the assigned runway was long, they decided to reduce weight by using higher-than-normal engine power settings while maintaining some amount of braking to control speed while taxiing in order to burn fuel prior to takeoff. During the taxi, the right and left main landing gear tires deflated when the fusible plugs in the wheels blew out due to over-heating, and a fire ignited in the right wheel housing. The crew reported that they felt the airplane yaw as the tires deflated and were informed via radio by a following airplane that their right wheel was on fire. The crew brought the airplane to a stop on the taxiway, evacuated, and attempted to extinguish the fire with two hand-held fire extinguishers. Airport fire fighting personnel arrived on scene and extinguished the fire using foam suppressant. The fire resulted in substantial damage to the wing support structures.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilots improper decision to burn fuel during the taxi by operating the engines at a higher-than-normal power setting and using the wheel brakes to control taxi speed, which resulted in a wheel fire."

Accident investigation: