B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Aircraft
After blocking in; a wheel brake caught fire on the left hand truck. During the preflight the First Officer (FO) had mentioned that it looked like one of the brakes had been replaced on the left truck and that there was a fair amount of dirt and hydraulic type fluid on the brakes and on the ground. When Maintenance brought the logbook to the aircraft about 20 minutes later; he informed me that they had indeed changed a brake (for the life of me I cannot remember which one he said). It was written up in the logbook and signed off; and Maintenance also confirmed with me that that was why there was the dust; dirt; fluid in and around the brakes; wheels; truck of the left side. We took a 45 min loading delay; we had a reverser Deferred Maintenance Item. We took off at 369.4 GW; with a 378.0 max GW limited by landing weight. Only other problem that we had was that we could not get our ETOPS Wx via ACARS; had to do a phone patch with OPS. I contemplated using flaps 30 for landing but opted for 25 as there was only a 300 feet landing difference between the two and company SOP. I did choose brakes 4 though. I can't remember if I used 314 or 315 GW for landing but I remember that REF was 147. Landing was on speed and approximately 2500 feet down. Everything seemed normal during rollout and I disconnected the auto brakes at about 65 knots; and rolled to the next exit. I taxied into parking and did the shutdown checklist. While accomplishing it the Marshaller gave me the chocks in signal and I released the brakes knowing that they were undoubtedly warm. Then we did the Secure Checklist. The FO got up to open the door but said that there were no stairs; he informed me that he was putting the strap up. I was filling out the logbook when someone came up the stairs and said to release the brakes. I said that I already had; and the individual left without saying anything else. The FO left to do his walk around and I finished the closeout and sent it to ops. I was in the process of getting out of the seat when our Maintenance Representative and my FO came up to tell me that we had a brake fire on #2. (I didn't know anything about it to that point). Maintenance said that they had put the fire out and had already called the Fire Dept. I left the aircraft with both individuals and I and the FO moved [toward] the nose of the aircraft about 100 ft away. I did not write up anything in the logbook because I had already closed it out and I left it onboard. The Fire Dept didn't let anyone close to the aircraft for approximately 1.5 hours. In the meantime I called company with the preliminary details.
The landing was normal; other than an already inoperative right thrust reverser and taxied off the runway. We parked normally. After door opening a maintenance representative said; 'release the parking brake' And the Captain responded; 'I already did.' During the post flight inspection; I made it to right-side forward fuselage and noticed; what appeared to be two Maintenance Representatives talking to each other near the left main gear. I could also see some smoke coming from the aft portion of the left truck. I thought nothing other than hot brakes and gave a wide berth to the right main gear; because I could only deduce the gear was hot and a fuse plug explosion was possible. After making my way to the tailskid; I noticed a fire extinguisher and what looked like used extinguishing chemicals on the left main tires; truck; and ground. I asked the two maintenance individuals to inquire what happened. I was told the brakes had started on fire and they had extinguished the fire. I immediately went to tell the Captain of the fire but found that he was already being informed of the fire by another Maintenance Representative. After that; the fire department showed up and would not declare the aircraft safe for approximately 1.5 hours. Suggest better communication to the flight deck crew if a fire exists; especially when involving brakes. We were not notified at all; until I inquired about the extinguishing chemicals on the brakes. We were never advised to leave the flight deck.
B-767 flight crew reported a brake fire had been extinguished after gate arrival.