Amateur/Home Built/Experimental
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 27500; Flight Crew Type 30
Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Weather
Flying a turbine powered [single engine experimental aircraft]; climbing through about 10;000 [FT] experience a very loud BANG; aircraft pitched down; all engine indications wound down. No RPM or EGT indicated. In the turn back to the airport attempted relight. Turned on igniters; and started and still got no rotation. On departure ASOS reported winds of 12 gusting to 20 but only chance to make it back to the airport was land downwind. Extremely high density altitude and touchdown speed due to tailwinds and aircraft weight; but made it. Came to a stop about 400 feet from the end of the runway. After breathing a sigh of relief I noticed some smoke coming from behind. Egressed to find the left brake on fire. Had no fire extinguisher in the aircraft and no one responding quickly. By the time help arrived left gear was totally engulfed in flames. Fire was put out and aircraft removed from runway.
The pilot of a single engine turbine powered experimental aircraft experienced an engine failure. Following a successful return to the field; the left brake was found to be on fire.