BEECH A36 near Rio Oso, CA — 2017-12-04

Final reportWPR18LA043

Date: 2017-12-04
Location: Rio Oso, CA, USA
Airport: MYV
Aircraft: BEECH A36
Registration: N251E
Category: Airplane
Highest injury: Minor
Fatalities: 0
Phase of flight: Cruise

Probable cause

An in-flight fire due to electrical arc corrosion of the fuel line.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, he saw flickering from below his seat and that he observed a fire had started when he looked under his seat. He made an emergency landing to an open field and exited the airplane before it burst into flames. The cockpit was thermally damaged, and the airplane sustained substantial damaged to the undercarriage of the fuselage. Examination of the fuel selector valve trim panel with attached wires, a fuel flow valve with fuel lines, and a portion of electrical wiring revealed a pin hole in a fuel line near the fuel selector valve as well as damaged electrical wiring. Damage to the fuel line was consistent with electrical arc corrosion.