# NTSB ATL91LA045: Cessna 182A, N4718D, Warm Springs, GA, January 23, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 23, 1991, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Warm Springs, GA
- Coordinates: 32.880012, -84.669593 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8800&lon=-84.6696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8370
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91LA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8370/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA045

## Probable cause

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT RELATED TO THE ALTERNATOR FROM AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, standing - engine(s) operating
  - electrical system,alternator - shorted (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING THE ENGINE RUNUP, THE RIGHT MAG DROP WAS SIGNIFICANT.  WITH THE MAG SWITCH BACK ON BOTH, IT WAS OK.  AGAIN ON THE RIGHT MAG THE ENGINE BACKFIRED & QUIT.  IT WAS STARTED AGAIN WITH THE SAME RPM DROP ON THE RIGHT MAG.  PUFFS OF SMOKE WERE OBSERVED FROM UNDER THE ENGINE.  HE GOT OUT, OPENED THE COWLING, & SAW FLAMES.  THE LOCAL FD PUT OUT THE FIRE.  AN FAA INSPECTOR FOUND THAT THE FIRE INITIATED FROM THE ALTERNATOR.  THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS ALSO BURNED BUT NOT THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE FIREWALL. A SHORT APPEARED TO HAVE OCCURRED AT THE TOP OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4718D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4718D), registered now, S/N 34818, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182A
- Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34818
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mattei, Paul J.
- Registered owner: Vertigo Aviation, Inc.
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 14, 1990, 29 hours before
- Destination: NEW ORLEANS, LA
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: 5A9, Roosevelt Memorial, runway 17, 3,000 × 75 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,229 total, 533 in this make and model, 1,195 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19910123002949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910123002949A), Jan 23, 1991: Cessna 182A, Warm Springs, GA, Substantial damage. Engine backfired and lost RPM on run up. Fire erupted at firewall and under dash. Electrical short. Cracked intake.

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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