# NTSB CEN11LA327: Piper PA 46-350P, N80JB, Chico, TX, May 8, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 2011, 20:08 local (May 8, 2011, 01:08 UTC)
- Place: Chico, TX
- Coordinates: 33.290977, -97.789726 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2910&lon=-97.7897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 20, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Lycoming Engines, Federal Aviation Administration, Piper Aircraft Company
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79067
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA327
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79067/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79067
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA327

## Probable cause

The mechanic's improper installation of the turbocharger's exhaust balance system, which resulted in an in-flight fire.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Turbocharging (recip only)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058100/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058100/cases.md)
- [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While en route to the destination airport, the pilot noted fluctuation in the engine speed. He diverted to a nearby airport and detected smoke, which increased in intensity. While performing an emergency landing to a highway, the airplane's nose landing gear would not extend. The pilot landed the airplane, which slid to a halt. A postaccident examination revealed thermal distortion to the airplane's nose gear door, which impeded normal operation of the nose landing gear. Clamps on the turbocharger's intermediate exhaust crossover tube were found to be unsecured, which would allow exhaust gases to damage the engine's accessories. The examination also found signatures of thermal distress to the fuel flow transducer and fuel flow transducer line. The unsecured clamps and heat signatures were consistent with exhaust gases compromising the fuel flow transducer line, which resulted in a source of ignition and fuel for the in-flight fire. No additional preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. A review of maintenance logbooks noted that a propeller strike had occurred about 3 months before the accident and that repairs were completed about 1 month later, when the engine, including the turbocharger, was removed, cleaned, and inspected. The airplane had flown about 4 hours since the repair.

## Factual narrative

On May 7, 2011, at 2008 central daylight time, a Piper PA 46-350P airplane, N80JB, experienced an inflight fire near Chico, Texas. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial thermal damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Christian Air Brotherhood, Wichita Fall, Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Fort Worth about 1950. According to a statement provided by the pilot, the airplane was in cruise flight at 4,500 feet mean sea level, when he detected a change in engine noise along with fluctuations in the engine speed. The pilot started to divert to the nearest airport, when the engine began to run rough. Shortly thereafter, the pilot smelled, and saw smoke enter the airplane cabin. The smoke increased and the pilot elected to perform a forced landing on a highway. The airplane's nose landing gear did not extend and the airplane slid to a stop on the main landing gear and fuselage nose section. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine was conducted by the members of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as well as technical representatives from the Piper Aircraft Company and Lycoming Engines. The examination revealed substantial damage was sustained to the airplane's forward fuselage and firewall. Distortion from heat was noted to the airplane's nose gear door, which impeded normal operation of the nose landing gear. Clamps on the turbocharger's intermediate exhaust crossover tube were found unsecured. The NTSB's fire investigator found signatures of thermal distress to the fuel flow transducer and fuel flow transducer line. No additional preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. A review of maintenance logbooks noted that a propeller strike had occurred in early February 2011. Repairs on the airplane were completed May 3, 2011, when the engine was removed, cleaned, and inspected. The pilot reported that the airplane had only flown four to five hours since the airplane had been returned to service.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80JB-2015-05-28), registration cancelled 2015-05-28, S/N 4622156, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 46-350P
- Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4622156
- Airframe hours: 2418
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AE2A 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Christian Air Brotherhood LLC
- Registered owner: Christian Air Brotherhood LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 2011, 5 hours before
- Departed: AFW, Fort Worth, TX
- Destination: CWC, Wichita Falls, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 23, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 7,090 total, 200 in this make and model, 6,434 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observed at: XBP, 5 nm away

## 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 20110507013259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110507013259A), May 7, 2011: Piper PA 46-350P, Chico, TX, Substantial damage. N80JB departed VFR kafw enroute to kcwcpilot declared an emergency to fort worth ARTCC due to engine trouble and smoke in the cockpitflight landed south of hwy…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 9, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79067. 4.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 480 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361949&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo: Left side of airplane (item 2, .PDF, 413 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361950&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Left%20side%20of%20airplane-Master.PDF
- Photo: Engine overview (item 3, .PDF, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361951&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Engine%20overview-Master.PDF
- Photo: Engine on airplane (item 4, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361952&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Engine%20on%20airplane-Master.PDF
- Witness Statement: Record of Conversation with pilot (item 5, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%3A%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20pilot-Master.PDF
- Statements of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361985&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statements%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF
- Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 7, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF
- Factual Report of Fire Group Chairman Materials Laboratory Report 11-119 (item 8, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362553&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Factual%20Report%20of%20Fire%20Group%20Chairman%20Materials%20Laboratory%20Report%2011-119-Master.PDF

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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