# Incident 20030303007539I: Piper PA28140, Harrisburg, PA, March 3, 2003

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 3, 2003, 15:23 local time
- Place: Harrisburg, PA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.2759° N, 76.8850° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Harrisburg, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2759&lon=-76.8850&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3784K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3784K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 850 total, 300 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030303007539I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT WAS BEING DELIVERED TO A NEW OWNER BASED AT (MMK). THE COMMERCIAL PILOT CALLED TO TAXI AT 2012Z FROM AERO SERVICES. HE DEPARTED MDT AT 2022Z. ON HIS CLIMB OUT HE NOTICED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT AND CALLED TOWER TO LAND (2023Z) AND LANDED AT 2024Z. AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING THE TOP COWLING WAS OPENED. THE #4 EXHAUST RISER HAD PULLED OUT OF THE MUFFLER SLIP JOINT. THIS ALLOWED HOT EXHAUST GAS TO MELT THE INSULATION ON ALL THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AT THE STARTER CONTACTOR AND WIRING ENTRY TO THE FIREWALL. A PROMPT RESPONSE BY THE PILOT PREVENTED SERIOUS DAMAGE.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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