# NTSB CEN12CA496: Black Donald Cozy III, N904DB, Los Lunas, NM, July 29, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 29, 2012, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Los Lunas, NM
- Coordinates: 34.759723, -106.745277 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7597&lon=-106.7453&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84519
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA496
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84519/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84519
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA496

## Probable cause

A loose oil line, which allowed oil to leak onto the hot engine turbocharger and resulted in a fire.

## Findings

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

- [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Black Donald COZY III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=05630IT), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi-from runway: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Black Donald COZY III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=05630IT), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While taxiing after landing, the engine lost power, and the pilot turned the airplane off the runway. The pilot exited the airplane and noticed smoke at the rear of the airplane near the engine. The pilot attempted to extinguish the fire; however, his efforts were unsuccessful, and the airplane was consumed by the fire. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated 4.9 flight hours. Postaccident examination of the airplane found loose B-nuts on two fuel lines and one oil line. An oil streak was noted on the runway surface, and no oil was found in the engine. The pilot stated that the fire likely resulted from oil leaking onto the hot turbocharger.

## Factual narrative

While taxiing after landing, the engine lost power and the pilot turned the airplane off the runway. The pilot exited the airplane and noticed smoke at the rear of the airplane near the engine. The pilot attempted to extinguish the fire; however, his efforts were unsuccessful and the airplane was consumed by the fire. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated 4.9 flight hours. Post accident examination of the airplane showed loose B-nuts on two fuel lines and one oil line. An oil streak was noted on the runway surface and no oil was found in the engine.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N904DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N904DB), registered now, S/N 64, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BLACK DONALD COZY III
- Registry model: [Black Donald COZY III](https://openairdocs.org/model/black-donald-cozy-iii) (registry code 05630IT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Mazda 13B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/mazda-13b) (registry code 43200, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 64
- Airframe hours: 4.9
- Engines: Mazda RX8 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: On File
- Registered owner: On File
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: July 26, 2012
- Departed: E98, Los Lunas, NM
- Destination: E98, Los Lunas, NM
- Airport: E98, Mid Valley Airpart

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 14, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,160 total, 5 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F

## 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 20120729015659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120729015659A), Jul 29, 2012: Black Donald COZY III, Los Lunas, NM, Destroyed. On July 29, 2012, at 815 am a Cozy III, N209DB, registered to the pilot, made a precautionary landing after smelling smoke in the cabin. Visual meteorological…

## Other investigations on N904DB (1)

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.

- [NTSB CEN18LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA117), Feb 17, 2018: Black Donald Cozy III (N904DB), Los Lunas, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The seizure of the propeller gearbox for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in a forced landing.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84519. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375730&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375731&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%0D%0A-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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