# NTSB ATL07LA034: Greenhaw, William Lancair 360, N117BG, Guntersville, AL, January 23, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 23, 2007, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Guntersville, AL - Coordinates: 34.393054, -86.26889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3931&lon=-86.2689&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65185 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65185/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07LA034 ## Probable cause Failure of an unapproved automotive fuel line installed by the owner/pilot mechanic which resulted in an engine fire during taxi after landing. ## Analysis According to the pilot, while taxiing following a normal landing he smelled fiberglass and then observed smoke and fire coming from the engine cowling. He immediately stopped the airplane, and egressed. He said the airplane continued to burn. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the airplane partially consumed by fire. Examination of the engine revealed that the fuel line from the fuel servo to the flow divider had melted from the connection at the fuel servo to the cylinder baffling. The hose was still connected to the flow divider and retained torque on the fitting. The hose was removed and examination provided that the approximately half of its original length had been burnt away or melted. Examination revealed that the hose was of non-aviation automotive origin and identified as SAE. The construction of the hose was of plastic with a vinyl outer coating. Examination of the fuel line fitting still attached to the fuel servo revealed threads in the socket were clean with no residual hose material present in the threads. There was a light amount of melted plastic on the outer end of the socket. The hose had not been properly assembled, thus allowing fuel to escape into the engine compartment. ## Factual narrative On January 23, 2007, at 1345 central standard time, a homebuilt Lancair 360, N117BG, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a 14 CFR Part 91 test flight, experienced an engine fire while taxiing following a landing at the Guntersville Municipal-Joe Starnes Field Airport, in Guntersville, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The commercial pilot reported no injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from the Guntersville Municipal airport at 1300. According to the pilot, while taxiing following a normal landing he smelled fiberglass and then observed smoke and fire coming from the engine cowling. He immediately stopped the airplane, and egressed. He said the airplane continued to burn. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the airplane partially consumed by fire. Examination of the engine revealed that the fuel line from the fuel servo to the flow divider had melted from the connection at the fuel servo to the cylinder baffling. The hose was still connected to the flow divider and retained torque on the fitting. The hose was removed and examination provided that the approximately half of its original length had been burnt away or melted. Examination revealed that the hose was of non-aviation automotive origin and identified as SAE. The construction of the hose was of plastic with a vinyl outer coating. Examination of the fuel line fitting still attached to the fuel servo revealed threads in the socket were clean with no residual hose material present in the threads. There was a light amount of melted plastic on the outer end of the socket. The hose had not been properly assembled, thus allowing fuel to escape into the engine compartment. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, taxi - from landing - maintenance,installation - not approved, owner/pilot mechanic (cause) - fuel system,line - automotive - fluid,fuel - leak ## Aircraft - Registration: [N117BG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N117BG-2009-12-31), registration cancelled 2009-12-31, S/N BG-L-0001, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Greenhaw, William Lancair 360 - Registry model: [Greenhaw William O LANCAIR 320/360](https://openairdocs.org/model/greenhaw-william-o-lancair-320-360) (registry code 05621ZT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1a) (registry code 41818, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: BG-L-0001 - Airframe hours: 19 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Both - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: William Otto Greenhaw - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2006, 19 hours before - Departed: 8A1, Guntersville, AL - Destination: 8A1, Guntersville, AL - Airport: 8A1, Guntersville Municipal Airport, runway 03, 3,368 × 95 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 2,920 total, 19 in this make and model, 2,735 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: HSV, 20 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 20070123001069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070123001069A), Jan 23, 2007: Greenh LANCAIR32036, Guntersville, AL, Destroyed. (-23) After flying for thirty minutes, the pilot detected the smell of fiberglass. The pilot made a landing on runway 03 Guntersville, AL (8A1). After clearing… 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.