# NTSB CEN16IA091: Mitsubishi MU 300, N200LP, Little Rock, AR, January 12, 2016

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 12, 2016, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Little Rock, AR
- Coordinates: 34.729442, -92.224723 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7294&lon=-92.2247&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92607
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16IA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92607/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92607
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16IA091

## Probable cause

The flight crew's inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, during which they failed to see a fueling mat that had been placed on the inboard trailing edge of the right wing, which the right engine subsequently ingested during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the incident was the airplane fueler's failure to remove the fuel mat after fueling the airplane.

## Findings

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

- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=5780602), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=5780602), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight service personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=5780602), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=5780602), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=5780602), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Engine shutdown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140); cases with it: [Mitsubishi MU-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140/sequence.md?model=5780602), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airline transport pilot and the copilot were conducting an on-demand, air taxi flight with two passengers on board. The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, he heard a "grumble" and that the airplane began shaking. The passengers reported to the flight crew that they saw flames coming out of the right engine. The flight crew then stopped the airplane on the runway and shut down the engines. Postincident examination of the right engine revealed that it had ingested a fuel mat that airplane fuelers had placed on the inboard trailing edge of the wing during preflight fueling and failed to remove after fueling. The pilots reported that they did not conduct an exterior preflight inspection of the airplane after it was fueled and that, during a subsequent visual inspection of the fuel caps, they did not see the fuel mat because of its location on the right wing. The pilots' inadequate inspection of the airplane after it was fueled led to the right engine ingesting the fuel mat during the takeoff roll.

## Factual narrative

On January 12, 2016, about 0930 central standard time, a Mitsubishi MU300 airplane, N200LP, experienced an engine fire during the takeoff roll from Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field (LIT), Little Rock, Arkansas. The two flight crewmembers and two passengers on-board were not injured. The airplane incurred minor damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Central Flying Service Inc. under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight was destined for Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH), Lake Charles, Louisiana. The flight crew reported that the airplane was fueled, and the flight crew completed a walk around inspection of the airplane. After taxiing to runway 18, the flight crew advanced the throttles to takeoff power and began the takeoff roll. A "couple seconds later" the flight crew heard a "grumble" and the airplane began shaking. The passengers in the back of the airplane reported to the flight crew that they saw flames coming out of the of the right engine. The flight crew stopped the airplane and shut down the engines while the airplane was still on the runway. After the airplane was towed off of the runway, the crew noticed the right engine had ingested a fuel mat that was left on the inboard trailing edge of the wing by the airplane fuelers. The fuel mats were placed on the wing after the flight crew's preflight inspection was accomplished, and the flight crew had not noticed the mats during the visual inspection of the fuel caps due to their location on the trailing edge of the wing. To prevent a similar occurrence in the future, the operator implemented a change to the General Operations Manual. Guidance was added to the "Fuel" section, that included: "… After fueling the crew will do a complete inspection of the exterior of the aircraft to ensure wings are clear of foreign objects and damage has not occurred during fueling."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N200LP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N200LP-2024-05-01), registration cancelled 2024-05-01, S/N A006 S.A., built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU 300 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-300) (registry code 5780602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-4-series) (registry code 52112, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Unknown
- Serial number: A006 S.A.
- Year built: 1983
- Airframe hours: 7736
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney JT15-4D 2500 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney JT15-4D 2500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Central Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner: Central Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 21, 2015
- Departed: LIT, Little Rock, AR
- Destination: LCH, LAKE CHARLES, LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LIT, Bill And Hillary Clinton Natio, runway 18, 6,224 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 13, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,286 total, 720 in this make and model, 4,976 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days
- Co-pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport, private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 19, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 12,618 total, 1,097 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: KLIT, 1 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).

- [Incident 20160112000659I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160112000659I), Jan 12, 2016: Mitsubishi MU-300, Little Rock, AR, Minor damage. On 01/12/2016 N200LP was taking off from lit located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Aircraft was being operated by an ATP rated pilot with a valid 1st class medical…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92607. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.

---
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.