# NTSB ATL89LA087: Piper PA-23-250, N5112Y, Huntersville, NC, February 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1989, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Huntersville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.409202, -80.840995 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4092&lon=-80.8410&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7987
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7987/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA087

## Probable cause

FIRE RESULTING FROM AN OIL LEAK OF UNDETERMINED ORIGIN IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT ENGINE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, approach
  - fluid,oil - leak (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT BLUE SMOKE AND OIL WERE OBSERVED TRAILING FROM THE LEFT ENGINE AND WING DURING APPROACH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, FLAMES WERE OBSERVED COMING FROM THE LEFT ENGINE NACELLE. THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE, AND AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS MADE. THE LEFT WING BROKE OFF DURING ROLLOUT. THE AIRPLANE WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE SHORTLY AFTER COMING TO STOP. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE; HE REPORTED THAT THE EXTENT OF THE FIRE DAMAGE PRECLUDED DETERMINATION OF THE EXACT SOURCE OF THE FIRE. HE NOTED THAT HE FOUND OIL-SOAKED PAINT CHIPS ALONG THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT PATH ABOUT 900 FT BEFORE THE TOUCH DOWN POINT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5112Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5112Y-1989-07-26), registration cancelled 1989-07-26, S/N 272140 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-2140
- Airframe hours: 1787
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cross Motor Company
- Registered owner: Cross Motor Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 6, 1987, 23 hours before
- Airport: NC05, Bradfprd, runway 6, 3,850 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,250 total, 800 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F

## 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 19890212006729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890212006729A), Feb 12, 1989: Piper PA23250, Huntersville, NC, Destroyed. Engine fire in pattern. Feathered engine. Landed. Thick smoke in cabin. Fire consumed aircraft. Origin unknown.

## Other investigations on N5112Y (1)

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.

- [NTSB IAD76FKM39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76FKM39), Jul 1, 1976: Piper PA-23 (N5112Y), Huntersville, NC, substantial damage

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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