# NTSB ATL88LA006: Beech H-18, N711LC, Sandersville, GA, October 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 8, 1987, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Sandersville, GA
- Coordinates: 32.980415, -82.810096 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9804&lon=-82.8101&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7651
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7651/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA006

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, takeoff - initial climb
  - nacelle/pylon - fire (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - fuselage,crew compartment - smoke
- Fire, landing
  - wing - burned

## Analysis

THE COCKPIT BEGAN TO FILL WITH SMOKE DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER THE PLT RAISED THE LDG GEAR. THE PLT RETURNED TO THE ARPT AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LDG. AFTER EVACUATING THE ACFT, THE PLT OBSERVED THAT THE RT ENGINE NACELLE AFT OF THE FIREWALL WAS ON FIRE. INITIAL ATTEMPTS BY GROUND PERSONNEL TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED SEVERAL MINUTES LATER BY A LOCAL FIRE DEPT AFTER THE ACFT HAD SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING. THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR; THE EXACT ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N711LC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N711LC-1994-07-19), registration cancelled 1994-07-19, S/N BA723 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH H-18
- Registry model: [Beech H-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h-18) (registry code 1151012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BA723
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Flite Services,Inc.
- Registered owner: Flite Services, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: PDK, ATLANTA, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GA07, Kaolin  Field, runway 12, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13,496 total, 165 in this make and model, 13,370 as pilot in command, 192 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19871008060919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871008060919A), Oct 8, 1987: Beech H18, Sandersville, GA, Substantial damage. Engine fire on climbout. Smoke in cabin, returned and landed. Fire crew put out fire. Orgin of fire not know.

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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