Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 150 near Palm Bay, FL — 2016-12-19

Final reportERA17LA071
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Date
2016-12-19
Location
Palm Bay, FL, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 150
Registration
N150EC
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

Unknown maintenance personnel’s improper routing of electrical wires in the engine compartment, which resulted in chafing and a subsequent in-flight fire.

NTSB narrative

During recovery from a simulated engine failure during an instructional flight, the flight instructor and student pilot smelled and then saw smoke in the cockpit. The instructor took the flight controls, chose a forced landing site, and maneuvered the airplane for landing. Upon touchdown, the nose landing gear settled into low brush and soft terrain where the airplane stopped, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that wires connected to the battery solenoid exhibited thermal damage. When the damaged wires were moved, the navigational gyros energized, the airplane lights illuminated, and the flaps deployed. Detailed examination revealed that the wire that connected the battery solenoid to the starter solenoid exhibited chafing and thermal damage to the insulation along a 3-inch-long section. The wire was placed in its approximate preaccident location, and the burned area corresponded to the round shape of the right rear muffler. A review of maintenance records revealed no entries related to wiring. It is likely that unknown maintenance personnel improperly routed the wires, which led to chafing and the subsequent in-flight fire.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Instructor could have chosen a different landing site before smoke was observed.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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