ATL95LA151

While en route to spray a field 3 miles from the staging airstrip, the pilot heard an unusual noise in the cockpit. Seconds later, smoke and fire from under the instrument panel started filling the cockpit. The pilot made an emergency landing at the staging airstrip, and exited the burning airplane. The cockpit and center section of the airframe were fire damaged. Examination of the instrument panel disclosed that a fuel line for the fuel flow meter was burnt out of the instrument. Several fire damaged electrical wires were located in the immediate vicinity of the fuel line.

On August 10, 1995, at 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 188T, N731DB, experienced an inflight fire while enroute to spray a field near Town Creek, Alabama. The aerial application flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot landed the airplane without further incident, and he was not injured. The airplane burned and was destroyed. The flight departed a private airstrip in Town Creek, Alabama, at 0928 hours.

According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff from the staging airstrip, he noticed a loud noise inside the cockpit followed by the smell of smoke. He executed a turn toward the airstrip for an emergency landing. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane for the landing, he observed flames coming from the instrument panel. The pilot landed on the airstrip, and exited the burning airplane.

Examination of the aircraft disclosed that the cockpit and center sections were fire damaged. An examination of the instrument panel revealed that the fuel flow meter was connected to a wet fuel line behind the instrument panel. Several fire damaged electrical wires were located in the immediate vicinity of the wet fuel line. The entire area behind the instrument panel was fire damaged, and the fitting that connected the wet fuel line to the fuel flow meter was burnt.