- Date
- February 1, 2010, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Reserve, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3565BPiper PA-32R-301T
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Fire/smoke (non-impact)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 28, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100201026609A
- Case key
- 75332
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An in-flight fire due to a fuel leak from the No. 5 cylinder's broken fuel injector/line.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During takeoff the pilot heard a "pop" noise followed by smoke in the cockpit. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff roll and return to the airport; during the downwind leg, the smoke became severe. The pilot was able to land the airplane safely. Examination of the airplane revealed that the engine, cowling, and firewall sustained fire damage. Additionally the inspection revealed that a fuel injector/line on the No. 5 cylinder was broken and had sprayed fuel onto the engine's turbocharger.
Factual narrative
During takeoff, the pilot heard a "pop" noise followed by smoke in the cockpit. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff roll and return to the airport; during the downwind leg, the smoke became severe. The pilot was able to land the airplane safely. Examination of the airplane revealed the engine, cowling, and firewall sustained fire damage. Additionally, the inspection revealed that a fuel injector/line on the number 5 cylinder was broken, and sprayed fuel onto the engine's turbocharger.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3565B
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32R-301T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32R-8029027
- Engine
- Lycoming TI0-540 SER, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Operator
- Zia Consulting Inc
- Registered owner
- Zia Consulting Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- T16 · Reserve, NM
- Destination
- PHD · New Philadelphi, OH
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- T16 · Reserve Airport
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 71
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 28, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 28,500 total · 29 in this make and model · 25,000 as pilot in command · 34 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.