20070524008149A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-44-180 · Lubbock, TX · May 24, 2007

Date: May 24, 2007 · 12:30 local
Place: Lubbock, TX
Airport: Lubbock International Airport
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N255ER
NTSB investigation: NTSBDFW07CA121
Reported as: Piper PA44180
Reported engine: Lycoming LO360E1A6
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,730 total190 in this make and model85 in the last 90 days

N255ERRegistration cancelled Aug 27, 2012 · Piper PA-44-180S/N 44-8195004 · Built 1980 Airframe modelPiper PA-44-180 Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

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) On may 24, 2007, at 1230 CDT, while taxiing for take off on runway 35L at Lubbock International Airport, (klbb), the right engine compartment of N255ER, a Piper aircraft, caught on fire. The pilot and student stated the right engine quit running during the taxi to the runway. During an attempt to restart the engine, fire was seen coming from under the right engine cowl. Electrical power and fuel were turned off and the pilot and student exited the aircraft. There was no injury to persons or damage to airport property. Examination of the right engine compartment revealed the exhaust pipe on number one cylinder hanging down on the exhaust studs, with no gasket or attaching hardware. Examination of the main fuel supply flexible hose from the right firewall to the engine driven pump revealed substantial air leakage of the hose with approximately one pound of air pressure applied to the hose.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON MAY 24, 2007, AT 1230 CDT, WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKE OFF ON RUNWAY 35L AT LUBBOCK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, (KLBB), THE RIGHT ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF N255ER, A PIPER AIRCRAFT, CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE PILOT AND STUDENT STATED THE RIGHT ENGINE QUIT RUNNING DURING THE TAXI TO THE RUNWAY. DURING AN ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE, FIRE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE RIGHT ENGINE COWL. ELECTRICAL POWER AND FUEL WERE TURNED OFF AND THE PILOT AND STUDENT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO PERSONS OR DAMAGE TO AIRPORT PROPERTY. EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE COMPARTMENT REVEALED THE EXHAUST PIPE ON NUMBER ONE CYLINDER HANGING DOWN ON THE EXHAUST STUDS, WITH NO GASKET OR ATTACHING HARDWARE. EXAMINATION OF THE MAIN FUEL SUPPLY FLEXIBLE HOSE FROM THE RIGHT FIREWALL TO THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL AIR LEAKAGE OF THE HOSE WITH APPROXIMATELY ONE POUND OF AIR PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE HOSE.

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 DFW07CA121Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLubbock, TXThe failure of the engine fuel supply line and the separation of the number one cylinder exhaust pipe resulting in an engine fire.May 24, 2007 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N255ER · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20020128002079ILevel Off Touchdown · Denver, CO(-23) 44709 Has been sent to thomas r. lonsdale.Jan 28, 2002 · Minor damage Incident 19960616018029IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Nassau, BahamasNarrative: Piper seminol, pa 44-150, landed at keywest airport and pilot reports landing gear folded up. Pilot (p. barry) flew past keywest nas tower for gear down observation. Was reported gear down. Gear indicated unsafe ind. Aircraft sustained substantial…Jun 16, 1996 · Minor damage