# Incident 20031125033179I: Piper PA32260, Mobile, AL, November 25, 2003

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 25, 2003, 15:30 local time
- Place: Mobile, AL
- Airport: Brookley
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.6944° N, 88.0431° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mobile, AL, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6944&lon=-88.0431&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3792W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3792W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-260 (registry code 7103206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32260
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- Pilot flight hours: 330 total, 30 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031125033179I

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON NOVEMBER 25, 2003 N3792W EXPERIENCED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT DUE TO AN ENGINE FIRE, AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT BROOKLEY FIELD (BFM), ALABAMA. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE REVEALED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SYSTEM WAS MISSING SIX NUTS AT THE ENGINE CONNECTION POINT. THE HEAT FROM THE LOOSE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, MELTED THE ROCKER COVER GASKETS CAUSING OIL TO DRIP ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FIRE, AND SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT SAFELY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

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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