# NTSB CHI08IA085: Hawker Beechcraft 99, N118SF, Moline, IL, February 19, 2008 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 2008, 20:30 local (Feb 19, 2008, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Moline, IL - Coordinates: 41.458889, -90.511947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4589&lon=-90.5119&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 August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Hawker Beechcraft Corp. - NTSB case key (mKey): 67559 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08IA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67559/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08IA085 ## Probable cause The arcing of the resistor and silicone controlled rectifier in the flap control circuit. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: tE flap control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said that during descent he "smelled electrical smoke and saw flames behind the power quadrant." He declared an emergency and removed the fire extinguisher from its holder. In the time it took to do this, the flames were no longer visible and the burning smell was not getting any stronger. The pilot landed at his destination without further incident. An examination revealed that a 10 ohm, 1/2 watt, resistor contacted the ground lug of a silicon controlled rectifier in the flap control circuit. The manufacturer indicated that manufacturing practices require component leads to be covered with a sleeve. The 100 hour inspection listed in the airplane's maintenance manual indicated that the instrument plumbing and wiring should be inspected for "condition, attachment, chafing, etc." ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2008, about 2030 central standard time, a Hawker Beechcraft Corp. 99, N118SF, operated by Suburban Air Freight Inc., as a cargo airplane, received minor damage during cruise when an in-flight fire occurred about 30 miles west of the Quad City International Airport (MLI), near Moline, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The unscheduled domestic 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight had a filed and activated an instrument flight rules flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The flight originated about 1930 from the Eppley Airfield, near Omaha, Nebraska, and was destined for MLI. The pilot said that during the descent to MLI he "smelled electrical smoke and saw flames behind the power quadrant." He declared an emergency and removed the fire extinguisher from its holder. In the time it took to do this, the flames were no longer visible and the burning smell was not getting any stronger. The pilot elected to continue to MLI. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the airplane. The inspector found that a 10 ohm, 1/2 watt, resistor contacted the ground lug of a silicon controlled rectifier. The components were mounted to a terminal strip located on the aft side of the center pedestal. The components were part of the flap control circuit. The circuit was protected by a five-amp circuit breaker manufactured in 1967. The circuit breaker was checked multiple times to verify what amperage it tripped and the initial test required 17 amps to trip the breaker. The airplane's last inspection was completed on December 28, 2007. The airplane accumulated 14,079 hours of total time at the time of that inspection. The manufacturer indicated that manufacturing practice requires electrical wires and leads of resistors and capacitors to be covered with sleeve insulation. The manufacturer indicated that periodic visual inspections of this wire harness per the Model 99 Maintenance Manual should detect sleeve damage that would allow the 10 ohm, 1/2 watt, resistor to contact the ground lug of a silicon controlled rectifier. The 100 hour inspection listed in the Model 99 Airliner Series Maintenance Manual, Chapter 5-20-00, indicated that the instrument plumbing and wiring should be inspected for "condition, attachment, chafing, etc." ## Aircraft - Registration: N118SF (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Hawker Beechcraft Corp. 99 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U-32 - Airframe hours: 14079 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Minor damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Suburban Air Freight Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, December 1, 2007 - Departed: OMA, OMAHA, NE - Destination: MLI, Moline, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MLI, Quad-City ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 18,100 total, 800 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 7 °F, dew point -2 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: MLI, 30 nm away 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.