Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 310Q near Wapakoneta, OH — 2014-03-08

Final reportCEN14LA159
Sign in to save
Date
2014-03-08
Location
Wapakoneta, OH, USA
Airport
KAXV
Aircraft
CESSNA 310Q
Registration
N69980
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Taxi

Probable cause

A fire due to a fuel leak of the cabin heater system. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance of the airplane, which failed to identify leaks in the heater system.

NTSB narrative

According to the private pilot, the cross-country flight was uneventful. As he parked the airplane on the ramp at the conclusion of the flight, a "puff of smoke" came from below the instrument panel. The pilot immediately shut down the electrical system, but the smoke continued to increase. He completed the airplane shutdown checklist, then he and the passengers exited the airplane. After exiting the airplane, the pilot stated he could hear fire in the nose compartment and saw paint on the nose compartment beginning to discolor. He removed the nose access panel and extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. The heater had a history of fuel leaks, as evidenced by cracks found in the heater and fuel evaporation marks in the fuel pump box. Airplane maintenance manuals and manufacturer service bulletins recommended recurring inspections of the heater system and fuel lines, but there was no documentation in the airplane's maintenance records that the inspections had been completed.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Failure to inspect the cabin heater fuel line as mandated by service bulletins.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

Related mishaps