19980121000509A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Aerosp ATR42320 · Windsor Locks, CT · January 21, 1998

Date: January 21, 1998 · 21:23 local
Place: Windsor Locks, CT
Airport: Bradley International
Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
Operator: C2XA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N15827
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC98FA062
Reported as: Aerosp ATR42320
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney PW121
People aboard: 38
Fatal injuries: 0

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.

(-23) The right engine caught fire after the aircraft was landed on rwy 33 at bd. The crew evacuated 36 passengers with only a scratched finger to the flight attendant as the only injury. The initial investigation reveals that the filter bowl on a low pressure fuel filter that is part of the engine fuel heater came apart. This caused fuel to escape inside the engine nacelle where it was probably ignited by the exhaust section of the engine. There was substantial damage to the flaps and wing as a result of fire.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE RIGHT ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED ON RWY 33 AT BD. THE CREW EVACUATED 36 PASSENGERS WITH ONLY A SCRATCHED FINGER TO THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT AS THE ONLY INJURY. THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT THE FILTER BOWL ON A LOW PRESSURE FUEL FILTER THAT IS PART OF THE ENGINE FUEL HEATER CAME APART. THIS CAUSED FUEL TO ESCAPE INSIDE THE ENGINE NACELLE WHERE IT WAS PROBABLY IGNITED BY THE EXHAUST SECTION OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FLAPS AND WING AS A RESULT OF FIRE.

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 NYC98FA062Accident · Minor injuriesField investigationFinal reportWindsor Locks, CTThe improper overhaul of lug holes on the fuel/oil heat exchanger. A factor was the lack of direction contained in the manufacturer's overhaul manual for working with the lug holes.Jan 22, 1998 · Substantial damage