# NTSB ATL07LA057: Beech 95-B55, N500JP, Atlanta, GA, March 20, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 2007, 21:55 local (Mar 20, 2007, 01:55 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.773887, -84.519447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7739&lon=-84.5194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65513 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65513/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=65513 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07LA057 ## Probable cause The improper maintenance of the "B-nut" fitting adjacent to the fuel pump by maintenance personnel, resulting in a fuel leak and wing explosion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Explosion, standing - starting engine(s) - fuel system,line fitting - leak (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause) ## Analysis At the initiation of a right engine start, the pilot heard a "thump" and observed fire from the right engine cowling. After engine shutdown, examination of the right wing revealed that the right wing, from the engine nacelle to the wing tip, was damaged. Servicing of the right fuel tank after the accident revealed a leak at the "B-nut" fitting on the output side of the fuel pump, whether the pump was actuated or not. Examination of maintenance records for the accident airplane revealed that the right main fuel cell was replaced approximately 3 months, and 12 flight hours prior to the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On March 19, 2007, at 2155 eastern daylight time, a Beech 95-B55, N500JP, was substantially damaged following a right wing explosion during engine start at the Fulton County Airport-Brown Field (FTY), Atlanta, Georgia. The airline transport-rated pilot and the commercial pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the positioning flight from FTY to Cobb County Airport-Mc Collum Field (RYY), Atlanta, Georgia. The airplane was registered to Caravan Leasing LLC and operated by Midline Airfreight Incorporated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The pilot stated that he landed at FTY to drop off a passenger, before returning the airplane to its home base. He said that after conducting a preflight inspection he started the left engine normally. He then primed the right engine with the electric fuel boost pump selected to "high boost," and initiated a right engine start. During the start, he heard a "thump" from the right side of the airplane, observed a small fire from the right engine cowling, and immediately stopped the engine. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane and noticed severe damage to the right wing from the engine nacelle to the wing tip. During a telephone interview, the passenger stated that another company pilot reported a fuel leak from the same wing two weeks prior to the accident. The passenger further stated that he flew on the airplane five times after that report but never noticed a fuel leak. Examination of the right wing revealed that the wing tip was split open, and the remainder of the wing was ruptured from the landing gear wheel well to the wing tip. An examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel cell was not breached, neither were any of the fuel lines. Inspection of the wiring system did not reveal any chaffing or broken wiring throughout the wing, and all of the electric wiring was properly harnessed. During examination and testing of the right main fuel tank, it was serviced with 29.2 gallons of fuel, which filled the tank. During the servicing, a "B-nut" fitting on the output side of the fuel boost pump leaked. The fuel that leaked from the fitting measured approximately "10 drops of fuel per-minute," and collected in the wheel well area. The fuel boost pump was then actuated in the "high-boost" position, and the "B-nut" fitting leaked at the same rate. Examination of the maintenance logbooks revealed that the right wing fuel cell was replaced on December 29, 2006, at 3197.5 total aircraft hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accrued 3209.5 total aircraft hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N500JP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N500JP-2015-08-31), registration cancelled 2015-08-31, S/N TC-2396, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 95-B55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-2396 - Airframe hours: 3209 - Engines: Continental IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Midline Airfreight Inc., doing business as Corp Jet - Registered owner: Caravan Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2006, 12 hours before - Departed: FTY, ATLANTA, GA - Destination: RYY, ATLANTA, GA - Airport: FTY, Fulton County Airport-Brown Fi ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 30,650 total, 775 in this make and model, 23,280 as pilot in command, 272 in the last 90 days, 94 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KFTY ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2008, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=65513. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 482 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-FLIGHT LOGS (item 2, .PDF, 392 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40296388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-FLIGHT%20LOGS-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-LOGBOOK PAGES (item 3, .PDF, 799 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40296389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-LOGBOOK%20PAGES-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 4, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40294289&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF - Passenger Interview Summary (item 5, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40294903&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-FUEL CELL INFORMATION (item 6, .PDF, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40294290&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-FUEL%20CELL%20INFORMATION-Master.PDF - Photo-NTSB digital wing 1 (item 7, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40294291&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-NTSB%20digital%20wing%201-Master.PDF - Photo- NTSB digital wing 2 (item 8, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40294292&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-%20NTSB%20digital%20wing%202-Master.PDF - Photo-NTSB digital wing 3 (item 9, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40294293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-NTSB%20digital%20wing%203-Master.PDF 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.