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Took the company owner and Account sales reps to DFW Monday morning. After I landed it seemed like it was "hard to taxi", and felt like the right main tire was rather flat, so taxied to the General Aviation ramp as usual. As we pulled in, the guy comes running out and says, "you're on fire, GET OUT OF THE PLANE". The three guys jumped out faster than I'VE ever seen! I grabbed the fire extinguisher on the way out the door, both brakes were on fire. (this plane is a lower wing, fire right next to fuel tanks)... Pulled the pin and doused the flames on the right side, the other guys are yelling the left side was on fire too!? Squirted the extinguisher under the plane at that side and it went out immediately. Looked back at the right side, due to the heat the flame came back, so had to keep squirting it, to keep the flame out. Probably about 15 seconds between it going out and coming back. The stupid fool at the office area, HAS a "fire cart", he wouldn't come out and help me at all. About the time the fire seems to be out, the entire fire department at DFW airport shows up at the ramp where I'm parked. Their answer to it was to bring out "fans", to "cool" them off so they won't fire up again. Of course while the fans are going there is a guy in a fire suit holding a hose of chemical spray, JUST IN CASE it flares up again...
BOTTOM line, turns out a mechanic, who at this point in time is unknown, serviced my brake system with MOTOR OIL! This is what they have determined caused the calipers to lock up, in conjunction with the 36 degree weather when I landed. As of this writing, both sides of the landing gear are fried beyond rebuild, somewhere in the vicinity of $4,000 damage to repair them. New tires too.
All of us could kick ourselves in the butt, to not take our phones out and take pictures of the dozen or so emergency vehicles that showed up for our little mishap! I've never seen those airport firetrucks up close before, they are HUGE! Needless to say, I think our adrenalin over weighed out rational thinking at the time...
I get to pick the plane up next Monday to bring it home. I've had things happen before flying, NEVER something this severe, and hopefully NEVER again!
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