# NTSB CEN17LA034: Cirrus Design SR22, N454RK, Baton Rouge, LA, October 31, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 31, 2016, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Baton Rouge, LA - Coordinates: 30.531389, -91.150833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5314&lon=-91.1508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Cirrus Aircraft, FAA FSDO, Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 94335 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94335/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94335 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA034 ## Probable cause A clamp rubbing a hole in a fuel drain line, which resulted in an engine compartment fuel leak and subsequent engine fire. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot conducted a normal preflight inspection in preparation for a return cross-country flight. About a minute after engine start, she heard a "pop," followed by the smell of smoke, an erratic engine sound, and the illumination of the oil light. Ground and fire department personnel responded and extinguished the engine fire. Examination of the engine and compartment noted that part of the fuel drain line had a small hole next to an adel clamp. Although pieces of the drain line assembly were partially consumed by fire, the fire was likely caused by fuel leaking from the hole in the fuel drain line and onto the bottom cowling and firewall areas and igniting. Although it is likely that the hole in the drain line was the result of contact with the adel clamp, due to fire damage, the examination was unable to determine why the clamp may have rubbed a hole in the line or if the clamp was properly installed. However, the fuel drain line routing installation appeared consistent with the manufacturer's assembly instructions. ## Factual narrative On October 31, 2016, about 1530 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N454RK, experienced an engine fire while at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Ryan Field, (KBTR), Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged during the accident. The airplane was registered to and operated by Johnnie Burrow, LLC, Longview, Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross country flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that she had flown into the airport about 2.5 hours earlier, and then parked at the airport. Before departing for a return cross-country flight, the pilot conducted a normal preflight and engine start. About a minute after engine start, she heard a loud "pop", followed by the smell of smoke, an erratic engine sound, and the oil light illuminating. She shut down the engine and evacuated the airplane. Ground and fire department personnel responded and extinguished the engine fire. Examination of the engine compartment was conducted by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a technical representative from Continental Motors, Inc. The examination revealed small hole in the fuel drain line near an adel clamp. The examination noted areas where fire/thermal damage was concentrated, such as, the fuel drain line past the hole location. An area on the bottom cowling, located directly under the drain line, and a spot near the bottom of the firewall area, also located just aft of the fuel drain line, had heavier damage. The fuel drain line assembly appeared consistent with the airframe manufacturer's assembly instructions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N454RK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N454RK), registered now, S/N 2084 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22) (registry code 2130001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550-N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-n) (registry code 17215, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2084 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 2261.5 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550-N 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Johnnie Burrows LLC - Registered owner: Johnnie Burrows LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 14, 2015 - Departed: KBTR, Baton Rouge, LA - Airport: KBTR, Baton Rouge Metropolitan ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,681.8 total, 697.2 in this make and model, 2,123.8 as pilot in command, 97.5 in the last 90 days, 48.2 in the last 30 days, 1.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KBTR ## 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 20161031017299I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161031017299I), Oct 31, 2016: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Baton Rouge, LA, Substantial damage. The pilot proceeded with normal startup procedures but after about 60 seconds of a normally sounding/normally operating engine, there was a loud ?pop?… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94335. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 257 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451562&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Memo (item 3, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-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.