# Accident 20081014849739A: Piper PA31350, Portland, OR, October 14, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 14, 2008, 08:05 local time
- Place: Portland, OR
- Airport: Portland International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: JIKA
- Location: 45.5306° N, 122.6791° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5306&lon=-122.6791&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3BT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3BT-2024-02-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31350
- Reported engine: LYC LTIO540*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,756 total, 348 in this make and model, 279 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA013) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081014849739A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT DEPARTED PDX AT 0805 AM ON PART 135 CARGO FLIGHT AND AT 1000 FT MSL NOTICED LEFT MANIFOLD PRESSURE DROP 6 INCHES BELOW RIGHT ENGINE, FELT A SURGE IN THE ENGINES, AND NOTED LEFT CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO 0.  ALL OTHER GAUGES WERE NORMAL, AND SHE RETURNED TO PDX FOR LANDING WITHOUT REDUCING POWER.  NO EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED.  AFTER LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED AND EVIDENCE OF FIRE FROM LEFT ENGINE WAS FOUND BY SUBSTANTIAL FIRE DAMAGE TO LEFT FLAP AND MLG DOOR FOR LEFT WHEEL.  LEFT ENGINE COWLINGS WERE REMOVED, AND A COMPLETE SEPARATION AND DISPLACEMENT OF THE R/H EXHAUST PIPE TO THE TURBOCHARGER WAS NOTED, WITH OBVIOUS EVIDENCE OF FIRE DAMAGE TO HOSES, LINES, ENGINE MOUNT, AND WASTEGATE CONTROLLER.  IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HEAT FROM THE FAILED EXHAUST PIPE HAD BURNED THROUGH THE WASTEGATE CONTROLLER, CAUSING OIL UNDER PRESSURE TO IGNITE AND STREAM FIRE UNDER THE LEFT WING.  STRUCTURAL DAMAGE NOTED TO LOWER WING SKIN AFT OF ENGINE, AND HEAT DISTORTION NOTED TO SPAR AFT OF ENGINE.  FAILED COMPONENT HAD 254 HOURS SINCE NEW, WHEN INSTALLED DURING OVERHAUL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR09LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA013), Oct 14, 2008: Piper PA-31-350 (N3BT), Portland, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight engine fire due to the fatigue fracture of an exhaust pipe that resulted from a failure of the pipe's slip joint.

## Other reports on N3BT (2)

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

- [Incident 20110628012469I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110628012469I), Jun 28, 2011: Piper PA-31-350 (N3BT), Burbank, CA, Minor damage. During taxi from amf ramp to rwy 33, turned right on taxiway charlie. In the low-light environment, pilot followed the wrong line and struck a taxi-way light…
- [Incident 19981014034229I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981014034229I), Oct 14, 1998: Piper PA31350 (N3BT), Phoenix, AZ, No damage. When cleared for takeoff pilot taxied to FAR side of runway and lined up on edge line rather from center line. Struck runway edge light with right prop. Pilot…

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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