19981231034469A

Acft experienced smoke in cockpit, pilot crashed while attempting to land at private airstrip. (.19)on December 31, 1998, at 1151 hours pacific standard time, an experimental harmon rocket ii, N288M, sustained substantial damage from an in-flight fire and subsequent collision with terrain during an attempted landing near Esparto, California. Smoke and flames filled the cabin and obstructed the view of the pilot as he sttempted to land at his private field. The commercial pilot/owner was in serious condition after suffering burns over 1/3 of his body and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and no flight plan was filed. (.4) on December 31, 1998, at 1151 hours pacific standard time, an experimental harmon rocket ii, N288M, sustained substantial damage from an in-flight fire and subsequent collision with terrain during an attempted landing near Esparto, California. Smoke and flames filled the cabin and obstructed the view of the pilot as he attempted to land at his private field. The commercial pilot/owner was in serious condition after suffering burns over 1/3 of his body and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot completed one flight and was taking another passenger up for a short flight around the area. On the downwind leg witnesses reported everything looked and sounded normal. Then they heard several pops, which they attributed to the engine being throttled back, one witness asked the other if the airplane was on fire. The flames he thought he observed went away. They dismissed the observation as sun glare and turned away. When they looked at the airplane again on base leg, two to three feet of bright yellow/orange lame and a trace of black smoke emanated from the cowling. On touchdown the airplane bounced, hit again, then skewed 20 degrees to the left. The left main landing gear collapsed outboard and the right main collapsed underneath the airplane. They gathered fire extinguishers and did not see the airplane come to a stop. The passenger stated he saw light gray smoke and notified the pilot. The pilot secured the master switch and turned onto the base leg. At this point the passenger did not observe flames or feel any heat. As the airplane turned wings level onto final, thick black smoke that smelled like burning fiberglass or plastic filled the cockpit. After the airplane came to rest, he observed flames around the pilot and felt high heat. He yelled to the pilot to open the canopy, but the pilot responded he could not get it to open. Momentarily, the canopy opened halfway. As the rescuers arrived, flames were still coming from under the cowling. The front cockpit was so filled with smoke that they could not see if the pilot was still in the airplane. The rescuers helped the rear passenger out, and then noticed the pilot on the side of the runway. A safety board investigatorand a representative from the engine manufacturer, Textron Lycoming, inspected the wreckage in the owner's hangar on January 13, 1999. The engine was a Textron Lycoming IO-540-C4B5, serial number RL-6849-48. The engine exhibited thermal daamge in the left rear section. The fuel flow divider on top of the engine was sooty, but undamaged. The fuel injection unit on the bottom of the enigne was undamaged. Components in the front right quadrant were not discolored or damaged. Discoloration and damge became evident and increased in severity moving toward the components in the left rear quadrant. The engine controls appeared secure at their respective mountings. Components of the accessory section at the rear of the engine displayed damage.