What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-5)On July 11, 1999, Mr. Tom whiddon, a lantana air flight instructor, was attempting to start N49027. After several attempts failed, maintenance was called and it was determined to install a ground power unit (gpu) to start the aircraft. After installation of the gpu and a subsequent attempt to start the aircraft, the mechanic smelled smoke and a few seconds later a fire was spotted from under the cowling. Investigations into the cause of the fire disclosed that the starter bendix housing had come loose. The aft end of the starter had rotated and contaced the engine case causing a short in the electrical system and a fire. Operator filed an m & d report on the engine starter. Aircraft never made a flight nor ever started. No injuries were reported.
As the FAA filed it
(-5)ON JULY 11, 1999, MR. TOM WHIDDON, A LANTANA AIR FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WAS ATTEMPTING TO START N49027. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS FAILED, MAINTENANCE WAS CALLED AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO INSTALL A GROUND POWER UNIT (GPU) TO START THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE GPU AND A SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT TO START THE AIRCRAFT, THE MECHANIC SMELLED SMOKE AND A FEW SECONDS LATER A FIRE WAS SPOTTED FROM UNDER THE COWLING. INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE DISCLOSED THAT THE STARTER BENDIX HOUSING HAD COME LOOSE. THE AFT END OF THE STARTER HAD ROTATED AND CONTACED THE ENGINE CASE CAUSING A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND A FIRE. OPERATOR FILED AN M & D REPORT ON THE ENGINE STARTER. AIRCRAFT NEVER MADE A FLIGHT NOR EVER STARTED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.
Other reports on N49027 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.