Air Cargo Carriers Flight SNC-1290

Air Cargo Carriers Flight 1290 experienced a right main gear fire while taxiing to active runway on May 17, 2012, about 0715 central daylight time at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas. There were no injuries and the fire was extinguished however the aircraft received substantial damage to the right hand main strut and right wing. The aircraft involved was a Shorts SD3-60(N617FB), registered to ACC Integrated Services Inc., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Regulations Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the crew had filed a flight plan. Its intended destination was Austin, Texas. As a result of this incident the aircraft was written off.

Incident
The aircraft was operating on a cargo flight and the crew later reported they were 60lbs. over maximum takeoff weight (MTOW).While taxiing to position for takeoff from runway 8R, the crew decided to lower takeoff weight by using a higher than normal power setting and riding the brakes to burn off extra fuel. During the long taxi the brakes overheated the tires causing both left and right main gear fusible plugs to rupture, with the crew reporting feeling the aircraft settle to right and left as the tyres deflated. The right gear then caught fire but the crew were unaware until the crew of the following aircraft informed them over the radio. The aircraft was stopped on the taxiway and the crew attempted to put out the fire with two handheld extinguishers. Airport fire fighting personnel then put out fire using foam suppressant.
The inspections by the FAA, the NTSB and aircraft maintenance personnel found no mechanical issues with the plane. The Shorts SD3-60 is a twin turbo-prop, strutted, high-wing airplane. Each of the main wheels are equipped with fusible plugs that are designed to rupture (melt) in the event of severe wheel overheating. The airplane's wheel and brake systems, checked after the accident, showed that the plugs on both main wheels ruptured as designed. The fire caused severe damage to the right main gear housing, which was part of the wing assembly structure and incorporates the attachment fitting for the wing strut. The operator's maintenance department believed that the fire caused substantial structural damage to the extent that repair is not practicable.
Cause
Both crew members stated that they had been trained to not ride the brakes while taxiing. The captain said he didn't realize the tires could blow or a fire started. The operator has since changed it's training program to put more emphasis the purpose of fusible plugs and the proper use of brake systems.

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