# Accident 20230727012959A: Piper PA-28-180, Knoxville, TN, July 27, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2023, 14:41 local time
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Airport: Knoxville Downtown Island
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9638° N, 83.8737° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9638&lon=-83.8737&mi=10
- Aircraft: N15417, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15417) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 912 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA347) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230727012959A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 27, 2023 A PART 61 FLIGHT SCHOOL HAD A DISCOVERY FLIGHT SCHEDULED IN A PIPER PA-28-180, AND DURING THE TAKE OFF ROLL A FIRE WAS NOTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT EMERGENCY CHECKLIST WAS PERFORMED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS EVACUATED WITH NO INJURIES TO PILOT OR PASSENGER. I ARRIVED AND BEGAN MY INVESTIGATION ON JULY 28, 2023. COLLECTED PICTURES AND INFORMATION AS NEEDED. EVIDENCE OF THE STARTER ELECTRICAL LEAD ARCING ON THE FUEL PRIMER LINE WAS FOUND AND I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE IGNITION POINT FOR THE FIRE. NO CLAMPS WERE NOTED ON THE STARTER ELECTRICAL LEAD FROM THE ENGINE MOUNT TO THE STARTER CONNECTION POST. THE ENSUING FIRE BURNED HOT ENOUGH TO LEAVE EVIDENCE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT DAMAGE TO AN ENGINE MOUNT TUBE, TURNING IT ORANGE.

## 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 ERA23LA347](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA347), Jul 27, 2023: Piper PA28 (N15417), Knoxville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: An in-flight fire that resulted from an inadequate 100-hr inspection, which failed to detect and correct improper electrical cable routing in the engine compartment.

## Other reports on N15417 (2)

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

- [Incident 20150411003739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150411003739I), Apr 11, 2015: Piper PA-28-180 (N15417), Batavia, OH, Minor damage. The aircraft veered right upon landing and departed the runway onto grass area between runway and parallel taxiway. The nose gear collapsed and the propeller…
- [Incident 19981124031479I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981124031479I), Nov 24, 1998: Piper PA28180 (N15417), Charlotte, NC, Minor damage. (-5)N15417 Piper PA28-180, sn 28-7305073 was operated by PIC jean-paul tsaka prouveur, certificate # 2566983 a certified flight instructor with commerical,…

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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