# NTSB BFO88IA065: Cessna T210R, N6286U, Washington, DC, July 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1988, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Washington, DC
- Location: 38.8951° N, 77.0364° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Washington, DC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8951&lon=-77.0364&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11384
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88IA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11384/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88IA065

## Probable cause

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE RESULTING IN THE ROUTING OF WIRE WHICH CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND INFLIGHT SMOKE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - electrical system,electric wiring - not secured (contributing factor)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - chafed (contributing factor)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - shorted (contributing factor)
  - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT EXPERIENCED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT WHICH HE STATED CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE TRIM TAB SWITCH BECAME INOPERATIVE, THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BECAME 'HEAVY' AND THE WX RADAR CIRCUIT BREAKER POPPED EVEN THOUGH THE RADAR WAS OFF. THE PLT STATED THE SMOKE EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND HE CONTINUED TO THE DESTINATION AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT INSIDE THE RIGHT WING, NEAR THE ROOT SECTION, THE WIRES FOR THE NAV LITE, STROBE LITE, AND FUEL QUANTITY TRANSMITTER SHORTED AND BURNED. THE WIRES WERE NEXT TO A FUEL VENTLINE THAT HAD BEEN CHANGED. REVIEW OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS DISCLOSED THAT ABOUT 3 YRS AGO A RADAR POD AND RADOME WERE INSTALLED WHICH INVOLVED ROUTING OF WIRES THROUGH THE AREA WHERE THE SHORTED WIRES WERE LOCATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6286U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6286U-2007-09-07), registration cancelled 2007-09-07, S/N 21064930, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210R
- Registry model: [Cessna T210R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210r) (registry code 2073459) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21064930
- Airframe hours: 234
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-CE 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph E. Butler
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, November 23, 1987, 49 hours before
- Departed: GED, GEORGETOWN, DE
- Destination: IAD, WASHINGTON, DC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 650 total, 400 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.