# NTSB ATL00LA042: Piper PA-31-350, N41081, Rock Hill, SC, April 19, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 2000, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Rock Hill, SC - Coordinates: 34.985279, -81.058891 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9853&lon=-81.0589&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Columbia FSDO - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 98-18-12](https://openairdocs.org/ad/98-18-12) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 49003 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49003/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA042 ## Probable cause The maintenance personnel's failure to re-torque the engine driven fuel pump in accordance with an Airworthiness Directive that resulted in a fuel leak and a subsequent engine fire. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, unknown - maintenance,compliance with ad - not complied with, other maintenance personnel (cause) - fuel system,pump - loose (cause) - Fire, approach ## Analysis The pilot of another airplane waiting for takeoff radioed the pilot of the accident airplane and told him that there was a fire on the right engine. The pilot of the accident airplane confirmed the fire and shut down the right engine. The engine fire was subsequently extinguished after airport officials used several hand-held fire extinguishers. The internal examination of the engine compartment showed fire damage in the vicinity of the engine driven fuel pump. Adjacent to the fuel pump assembly was a hydraulic supply line. Additional examination of the engine compartment disclosed that the hydraulic supply line was loose; the engine driven fuel pump was also loose. A review of the airframe and engine maintenance log books revealed that Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-18-12 was required. The AD requires that the engine driven pump assembly be re-torque "to prevent leaks that could result in engine failure or engine fire." The log book review failed to show compliance with this AD. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 2000, at 1545 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N41081, experienced an in-flight fire on the right engine while on approach to land at Branch Field in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The business flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Summerville, South Carolina, at 1500. According to the pilot, upon arriving at the destination airport, the pilot completed a landing check, which included lowering the landing gear. The pilot continued the approach and landed on runway 20. After landing, the pilot of another airplane waiting for takeoff radioed the pilot of the accident airplane and told him that there was a fire on the right engine. The pilot of the accident airplane confirmed the fire and shut down the right engine. The engine fire was subsequently extinguished after airport officials used several hand-held fire extinguishers. The external examination of the airplane revealed that the right engine cowling had sustained heavy fire damage to the aft half of the assembly. Cowling fire damage extended completely around the entire nacelle. The bottom side of the wing assembly was also fire damaged aft of the engine firewall to a point mid-chord of the right wing flap assembly. The internal examination of the engine compartment revealed fire damage in the vicinity of the engine driven fuel pump. Adjacent to the fuel pump assembly is a hydraulic supply line. Additional examination of the engine compartment disclosed that the hydraulic supply line was loose; the engine driven fuel pump was also loose. A review of the airframe and engine maintenance log books revealed that Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-18-12 was required. The AD requires that the engine driven pump assembly be re-torqued "to prevent leaks which could result in engine failure or engine fire." The log book review failed to show compliance with this AD. ## Aircraft - Registration: N41081 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-8352008 - Airframe hours: 3705 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Patton Aviatin Inc,. - Registered owner: Patton Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 2000, 27 hours before - Departed: DYB, Summerville, SC - Destination: Rock Hill, SC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: U2A, Rock Hill, runway 20, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CLT, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000419023509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000419023509A), Apr 19, 2000: Piper PA31350, Rock Hill, SC, Substantial damage. (.4) On April 19, 2000, at 1545 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N41081, experienced an in-flight fire on the right engine while on approach to land… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.