Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Fire (Non-Impact): Cessna 172S Skyhawk, N785SP; accident occurred July 28, 2018 at Knox County Airport (4I3), Mount Vernon, Ohio



The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Columbus, Ohio

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
 
http://registry.faa.gov/N785SP


Location: Mount Vernon, OH
Accident Number: WPR18LA207
Date & Time: 07/28/2018, 1045 EDT
Registration: N785SP
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Fire/smoke (non-impact)
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 28, 2018, about 1045 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S airplane, N785SP, was destroyed following an inflight fire in the traffic pattern at Knox County Airport (4I3), Mount Vernon, Ohio. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that departed Newark-Heath Airport (VTA), Newark, Ohio, about 1025. The flight was destined for Zanesville Municipal Airport (ZZV), Zanesville, Ohio.

According to the student, several minutes after takeoff, he maneuvered the airplane to enter the traffic pattern at 4I3, to accomplish touch-and-go landings. Initially, the student noticed his left foot was getting hot. Shortly thereafter, he noticed a fire near the rudder pedals. He pulled back the throttle and expedited his approach for landing. Subsequently, the fire continued to enlarge while he landed the airplane. After landing, he discharged the fire extinguisher and safely egressed from the airplane; a few seconds later the cockpit area was engulfed in flames.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspectors revealed that there was evidence of a fuel-fed fire, which emanated from the rear, lower center portion of the engine. Substantial thermal damage was observed in the area where the mechanical fuel pump is mounted to the oil cooler. The bottom hose connection was observed to be separated from the oil cooler. Furthermore, the bottom portion of the fuel pump was observed missing.

The fire started and eventually enlarged from an unknown source that could not be determined from the available evidence.

According to the FAA inspector, the airplane had complied with all appropriate Airworthiness Directives (ADs). Furthermore, the airplane had no maintenance write ups for fuel leaks or odors in the previous 20 flight hours. 

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Student
Age: 53, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/03/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:   (Estimated) 4000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 100 hours (Total, this make and model), 12 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N785SP
Model/Series: 172 S
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2001
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 172S8712
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection:  100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2299 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO360 SER
Registered Owner: Toshiyuki Hara
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator:On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: 4I3, 1191 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1056 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.16 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 15°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Newark, OH (VTA)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Zanesville, OH (ZZV)
Type of Clearance: Unknown
Departure Time: 1025 EDT
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: Knox County (4I3)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1191 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 28
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5498 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing; Touch and Go; Traffic Pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: In-Flight
Ground Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor

Latitude, Longitude: 40.328889, -82.526111 (est)

Location: Mount Vernon, OH

Accident Number: WPR18LA207
Date & Time: 07/28/2018, 1045 EDT
Registration: N785SP
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under:  Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 28, 2018, about 1045 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S airplane, N785SP, sustained substantial damage following an inflight fire in the traffic pattern at Knox County Airport (4I3), Mount Vernon, Ohio. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that departed Newark-Heath Airport (VTA), Newark, Ohio, about 1015. The flight was destined for Zanesville Municipal Airport (ZZV), Zanesville, Ohio.

According to the pilot, several minutes after takeoff, he maneuvered the airplane to enter the traffic pattern at 4I3, to accomplish touch-and-go landings. Shortly thereafter, he noticed a fire near the rudder pedals. The fire continued to enlarge while he landed the airplane. After landing, he safely egressed from the airplane, and a few seconds later the cockpit area was engulfed in flames.

The airplane was recovered to a secure storage facility for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N785SP
Model/Series: 172 S
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: 4I3, 1191 ft msl
Observation Time: 1056 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 15°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.16 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Newark, OH (VTA)
Destination: Zanesville, OH (ZZV) 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: In-Flight
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude:  40.328889, -82.526111 (est)

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