19951211043989A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Gulstm 112 · Memphis, TN · December 11, 1995

Date: December 11, 1995 · 07:30 local
Place: Memphis, TN
Airport: Memphis International
Phase of flight: Starting Engines
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N88MS
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA96LA038
Reported as: Gulstm 112
Reported engine: Lycoming IO360C1D6
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0

N88MSRegistration cancelled Jan 17, 2018 · Aero Commander 112S/N 97 · Built 1973 Airframe modelAero Commander 112 Engine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The pilot stated that he requested a ground power unit (gpu) to assist with the engine start. The FBO used a 28-volt, 800-AMP gpu. The airplane has a 12-volt system. The gpu was attached to the airplane, and after the battery switch was turned on the battery exploded and a fire ensued. Narrative:pilot hooked gpu to aircraft. Aircraft was 12 volt system. Gpu was 28 volt 800 amps. Battery melted/exploded causing backseat and head liner fire. Explosion caused damage to wire harness and avionics as well.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT HE REQUESTED A GROUND POWER UNIT (GPU) TO ASSIST WITH THE ENGINE START. THE FBO USED A 28-VOLT, 800-AMP GPU. THE AIRPLANE HAS A 12-VOLT SYSTEM. THE GPU WAS ATTACHED TO THE AIRPLANE, AND AFTER THE BATTERY SWITCH WAS TURNED ON THE BATTERY EXPLODED AND A FIRE ENSUED. NARRATIVE:PILOT HOOKED GPU TO AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT WAS 12 VOLT SYSTEM. GPU WAS 28 VOLT 800 AMPS. BATTERY MELTED/EXPLODED CAUSING BACKSEAT AND HEAD LINER FIRE. EXPLOSION CAUSED DAMAGE TO WIRE HARNESS AND AVIONICS AS WELL.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA96LA038Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMemphis, TNThe pilot's and ground personnel's improper starting procedure. Contributing to the accident were the communications being not understood and inadequate training for both the pilot and ground personnel.Dec 11, 1995 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N88MS · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19731010034009AStarting Engines · Hartford, CTEng started acft proceeded fwd abt 60FT hit and ovr-rode concrete curbing hit car. Brakes ckd. Ok.Oct 10, 1973 · Substantial damage