# NTSB ATL82IA103: Piper PA-31P, N25MA, Savannah, GA, April 2, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 2, 1982, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Savannah, GA
- Coordinates: 32.079814, -81.100181 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0798&lon=-81.1002&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 2, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72560
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82IA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72560/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82IA103

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Fire, cruise - normal
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fuselage,instrument/electrical panel - arcing (cause)
  - fuselage,instrument/electrical panel - fire (cause)

## Analysis

DURING FLIGHT, ELECTRICAL FUMES, SMOKE AND SPARKS BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL IMMEDIATELY LEFT OF THE PILOT'S SEAT. THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT SEAT. HE TRIED TO SUPPRESS THE SPARKS WITH A CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND TRIED TO ISOLATE THE SOURCE OF THE ELECTRICAL FIRE, BUT WAS UNABLE. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED AT SAVANNAH, GA. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT FIRE HAD DESTROYED MUCH OF THE WIRING BEHIND THE CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL AND SEVERAL HOLES WERE BURNED THROUGH THE FUSELAGE SKIN. BOTH OVER-VOLTAGE REGULATORS WERE BURNED OUT AND ALL RADIOS AND VOLTAGE REGULATORS WERE DESTROYED. THE BATTERY HAD OVER-HEATED AND SPEWED SMOKE AND FLUID FROM THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL HAD BEEN REINSTALLED WITHOUT A PHENOLIC SPACER ON THE FORWARD SIDE AND WAS BENT INWARD IN THAT AREA. THIS SPACER WAS NEED TO ASSURE SPACE BEHIND THE PANEL. THE FOAM MATERIAL (LINING FOR ADDITIONAL INSULATION) HAD BECOME BRITTLE. A COMPASS SYSTEM AND DME HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON 11/16/81.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N25MA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31P-31
- Airframe hours: 1934
- Engines: LYCOMING TIGO-541-E1A 425 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Nascar
- Registered owner: Nascar
- Departed: DAB, DAYTONA BEACH, FL
- Destination: INT, WINSTON-SALEM, NC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,900 total, 150 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 163 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAV

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19820402029239I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820402029239I), Apr 2, 1982: Piper PA31P, Savannah, GA, Minor damage. Spacers not installed during maintenance, allowed circuit breaker panel to short on fuselage. Caused electricl fire

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.

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