BFO95LA081

The two CFI's reported that the purpose of the flight was recurrency training. They completed the airwork portion of the flight, and proceeded to perform instrument approaches. They stated that everything was normal during the VOR approach to runway 14, and they circled to land on runway 32. The pilot-in-command stated that when he extended the landing gear he noticed whitish/gray smoke coming from behind the instrument panel. He retracted the landing gear and landed on runway 32. The airplane slid about 2,000 feet down the asphalt runway, and was destroyed by fire. Postaccident examination revealed a short circuit in the main power distribution cable which is routed behind the instrument panel.

On August 15, 1995, at 0030 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE-55, N1685W, operated by New Creations Inc. of Columbus, Ohio, crashed at Mansfield Lahm Municipal Airport, in Mansfield, Ohio. The two certificated flight instructors (CFI), the sole occupants, were not injured. The airplane was destroyed by fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operating on a flight plan at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 and originated at Columbus, Ohio, exact time unknown.

According to the CFIs, the flight was a recurrent training flight. They stated that they had completed the airwork portion of the flight, and were performing practice approaches at Mansfield. They planned to perform a VOR approach to runway 14, then circle to land on runway 32. They reported that everything was normal during the approach and circle to land maneuver until the airplane was on the base leg for runway 32. The pilot-in- command (left seat) stated: "I lowered [the] gear handle on base leg, completed before landing checklist, as I looked to turn final, I noticed smoke coming from behind [the] instrument panel in the area of the comm/nav stack, it was a whitish/gray smoke, [it] smelled electrical." The pilots stated that they placed the gear handle in the retracted position and made a gear-up landing on runway 32. The airplane slid about 2000 feet down the asphalt runway, and the pilots exited the airplane before it was destroyed by fire.

The aircraft was examined after the accident by the FAA Inspector. He reported that the examination included checking the electrical system, and the landing gear motor. When a power source was connected to the landing gear motor, it operated satisfactorily. The FAA inspector stated that "...the fire had ignited due to a short circuit in the main power distribution cable which is routed behind the co-pilot's instrument panel to a bank of current limiters from the power distribution relays and out to the right engine alternator. The cable was arc-welded to cable P4A6 which goes to a 50 amp breaker and to the other side of the current limiters."