# NTSB CHI04LA050: Cessna 182A, N5894B, West Chicago, IL, December 30, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 2003, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: West Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 42.114166, -87.90139 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1142&lon=-87.9014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58561 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58561/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA050 ## Probable cause The inadequate starting and flooded engine procedure used by certified flight instructor while providing instruction to the dual student. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, standing - starting engine(s) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - starting procedure - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) - fire extinguishing equipment - not available, flightcrew ## Analysis The flying club airplane received substantial damage during an instructional flight when upon engine start, a fire ensued from the engine compartment. The commercial pilot reported no previous flight time in the accident airplane. The instructor reported that the engine was over primed during the first engine start attempt. A flooded start procedure was then used during a second engine start attempt, but the engine did not start. Smoke was then seen emanating from the engine cowling. The commercial pilot reported that after the first start attempt, the engine was primed again but still did not start. Smoke was then observed, and the commercial pilot reported that he was instructed to continue cranking. A fire then ensued. The commercial pilot stated that after the fire erupted, he searched for a fire extinguisher but none was found. The commercial pilot stated that the mixture control was retarded to the idle cutoff position while he continued cranking the engine following the second engine start attempt. Post accident inspection of the cockpit revealed that the mixture control was in the full rich position, and the fuel selector was not in the off position. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 2003, about 1345 central standard time, a Cessna 182A, N5894B, operated by Travel Express Aviation, L.L.C. (TEA), as a flying club rental airplane, received substantial damage following an attempted engine start when a fire began in the engine compartment. The local fire department arrived on-scene and extinguished the fire. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and commercial pilot were uninjured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to University of Illinois-Willard Airport, Champaign/Urbana, Illinois The purpose of the flight was for the commercial pilot to receive a high performance airplane checkout. The commercial pilot reported no previous flight time in the accident airplane. According to the club CFI, the airplane was preflighted with a checklist. During the starting procedure, the engine was over primed. The flooded start procedure was used, which "did not allow engine start." Upon the second start, smoke was seen from the cowling, and the plane was evacuated. According to the commercial pilot, the airplane was preflighted with a checklist. During the first attempt, the engine did not turn over. After repriming, the engine still did not start. Smoke was observed from the cowling. He was instructed by the club CFI to continue cranking the engine over. A fire was then observed and engine was shut-down. The airplane was then evacuated according to the commercial pilot. During an on-scene conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge and the Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the commercial pilot stated that after the fire erupted, he searched for a fire extinguisher in the accident airplane and in the surrounding club airplanes, but none were available. During an on-scene interview, the commercial pilot stated that the mixture control was retarded to the idle cutoff position while he continued cranking the engine following the second engine start attempt. Post accident inspection of the cockpit revealed that the mixture control was in the full rich position, and the fuel selector was not in the off position. The engine firewall was warped. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5894B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5894B), registered now, S/N 33894 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33894 - Airframe hours: 3874.6 - Engines: Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Travel Express Aviation, L.L.C. - Registered owner: Machinery Rental - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 2003, 24 hours before - Departed: DPA, West Chicago, IL - Destination: CMI, Champaign, IL - Airport: DPA, Dupage ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 27, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 343 total, 0 in this make and model, 268 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 20, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 4,600 total, 54 in this make and model, 4,300 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: DPA ## 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 20031230035439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031230035439A), Dec 30, 2003: Cessna 182A, Chicago/West Ch, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) The flight instructor was giving dual instruction for a high performance endorsement to a rated pilot. During the first engine start attempt, the engine… ## Other investigations on N5894B (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 UNK65X0723](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0723), Nov 15, 1964: Cessna 182 (N5894B), Madison, CT, substantial damage 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.