# NTSB CHI95IA052: Cessna 402, N412RW, Saint Louis, MO, December 6, 1994

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 5, 1994, 22:08 local (Dec 6, 1994, 04:08 UTC)
- Place: Saint Louis, MO
- Coordinates: 38.630477, -90.190475 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6305&lon=-90.1905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9756
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95IA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9756/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95IA052

## Probable cause

improper maintenance installation (fuel line fitting)by other maintenance personnel.  A factor was the cross threaded fuel line fitting.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - from landing
  - fuel system,line fitting - cross/stripped threaded (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

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.

## Factual narrative

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N412RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N412RW-2017-07-06), registration cancelled 2017-07-06, S/N 402-0127, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402
- Registry model: [Cessna 402](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402) (registry code 207590K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402-0127
- Airframe hours: 5900
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Redwing Airways
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 1994, 14 hours before
- Departed: IRK, KIRKSVILLE, MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: STL, Lambert-St Louis Intl.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,400 total, 200 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F
- Observed at: STL

## 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 19941205044579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941205044579I), Dec 5, 1994: Cessna 402CESSNA, St Louis, MO, Minor damage. Fire light NR1 engine and engine fire. Landed safe. Fuel line at fuel pump connection cross threaded and leaking.

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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