CHI95IA052

While taxiing in from a landing the left engine caught on fire. Subsequent examination revealed that the fuel line from the fuel pump to the fuel controller was cross threaded at the fitting at the fuel controller. Total mating of the fitting surfaces did not occur. Most recent maintenance on the fuel line could not be determined from maintenance records.

On December 5, 1994, at 2208 central standard time, a Cessna 402, N412RW, registered to Redwing Airways of Kirksville, Missouri, experienced an engine fire while taxiing on taxiway W after landing at Lambert Field, Saint Louis, Missouri. The fire was extinguished by the airport fire department. The airplane sustained minor damage and the pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 135 flight was a contract carrier for United Parcel Service and had just arrived at Saint Louis, having departed Kirksville at 2110. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the event. The flight arrived on an IFR flight plan.

The pilot stated that after landing and taxiing on taxiway W the engine "died." When he noticed that a fire had started in the left engine, he started it with the intention to "blow the fire out." When this did not work, he shut down the engine, turned off the fuel and exited the airplane.

Subsequent to the event, an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and found that a fuel line fitting at the fuel controller was cross threaded where the fuel hose from the fuel pump connected to the fuel controller. Total mating of the fitting surfaces did not occur at this location.

A check of maintenance records for the airplane did not reveal the last maintenance on this particular hose connection; although, the last 100 hours inspection occurred 14 hours prior to the event on November 16, 1994.