# NTSB CHI86FEX04: Beech E18S, N46L, Fort Wayne, IN, November 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: November 24, 1985, 14:08 local (19:08 UTC)
- Place: Fort Wayne, IN
- Coordinates: 40.999164, -85.209762 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9992&lon=-85.2098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13346
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86FEX04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13346/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86FEX04

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Fire, standing - starting engine(s)
  - fluid,fuel - leak
  - fuel system,carburetor - cracked (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A RIGHT ENG FIRE DURING ENG START. THE PLT REPORTED THE RIGHT ENG WOULD NOT START DURING THE FIRST ATTEMPT. DURING THE SECOND ATTEMPT AT STARTING THE ENG, IT STARTED. WHILE RUNNING THE ENG ON THE PRIMER, THE PLT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENG. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RUN THE ENG TO DRAW THE FLAMES INTO THE INTAKE, HOWEVER, THIS FAILED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE PLT SECURED THE ACFT AND EVACUATED. THE FIRE WAS THEN COMPLETELY ENTINGUISHED BY THE ARPT FIRE DEPT. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE RIGHT ENG CARB FLOAT ASSEMBLY WAS CRACKED ALLOWING THE FLOAT TO SINK. WHEN THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS USED FOR STARTING THE ENG THE FUEL WAS ALLOWED TO FLOW THROUGH THE CARB INTO THE INTAKE SCOOP AND ONTO THE ACFT AND GROUND BELOW THE ACFT. THE ENG BACKFIRE, HEARD BY THE PLT, THEN IGNITED THE FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N46L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E18S
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BA379
- Engines: P&W R-985AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Summit City Air Charter, Inc., doing business as National Air Charter
- Registered owner: Daniel J. Wetli
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 1985, 192 hours before
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FWA, Baer Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 11,969 total, 143 in this make and model, 11,660 as pilot in command, 111 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19851124057889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851124057889A), Nov 24, 1985: Beech E18S, Fort Wayne, IN, Substantial damage. Cracked carburetor float sunk, allowing uncontrolled fuel flow. Backfire ignited fuel during engine start attempt.

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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