# NTSB CHI97LA255: Taylorcraft L2A, N51372, Shelbyville, IN, August 11, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 1997, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Shelbyville, IN - Coordinates: 39.51979, -85.77008 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5198&lon=-85.7701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10668 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10668/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA255 ## Probable cause the inadequate preflight by the pilot and the loose fuel line fitting. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, standing - fuel system,line fitting - loose (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a ferry flight of the airplane since it had not received an annual maintenance inspection since November 15, 1994. Shortly after takeoff, he detected a fuel odor and returned to inspect the airplane. No fuel leaks were detected. Five minutes after the second takeoff, he felt drops of fuel falling from an area near the right wing overhead fuel line. Fuel appeared to be leaking into the cockpit around the fabric patch surrounding the main fuel inlet line. During the base-to-final turn, a large quantity of fuel poured into the cockpit. The pilot made a short field landing and turned off the magnetos and shut off the fuel control handle during landing rollout. He exited the airplane and tried to push the airplane off the runway. The fuel ignited and the airplane was engulfed in flames within seconds. An examination of the fuel system revealed that the right wing fuel tank's fuel line located at the forward inboard area was completely disconnected. The fuel line incorporated a flare type fitting that appeared to have come unscrewed from its receptacle. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 1997, at 1415 eastern standard time, a Taylorcraft L2A, N51372, was destroyed by fire. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The pilot had initially departed the Shelbyville Municipal Airport, Shelbyville, Indiana, en route to Tara Field, North Carolina. The pilot returned immediately after takeoff, went into the operations building, and reported he had smelled fuel in the cockpit. After inspecting the airplane, the pilot departed a second time. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane returned to the airport. The pilot got out of the airplane after he had stopped it on the runway. A fire ignited and destroyed the airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that the aircraft had not received an annual maintenance inspection since November 15, 1994. The pilot was conducting a ferry flight of his aircraft back to North Carolina where an annual inspection was to be performed. After thoroughly inspecting the aircraft and receiving the appropriate ferry permit, he departed. Shortly after takeoff, he detected a fuel odor and returned to Shelbyville to inspect the airplane. After a thorough inspection, he could not find any fuel leaks. The pilot reported that approximately five minutes after takeoff, he felt drops of fuel falling from an area near the right wing overhead fuel line. He reported fuel appeared to be leaking into the cockpit around the fabric patch surrounding the main fuel inlet line. The pilot returned to Shelbyville. The fuel leak worsened and the volume of fuel leaking into the cockpit increased. The pilot reported that during the base-to-final turn, a large quantity of fuel poured into the cockpit. The pilot made a short field landing and turned off the magnetos and shut off the fuel control handle during landing rollout. The pilot reported he exited the airplane and tried to push the airplane off the runway. As the pilot was pushing the airplane off the runway, the fuel ignited and the airplane was engulfed in flames within seconds. An examination of the fuel system revealed that the right wing fuel tank had not ruptured, but a fuel line located at the forward inboard area was completely disconnected. The fuel line incorporated a flare type fitting and was not broken off, but appeared to have come unscrewed from its receptacle. The left fuel tank had ruptured, but the fuel fittings were intact. The fuel lines forward of the firewall were undamaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51372](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51372-2012-10-03), registration cancelled 2012-10-03, S/N 4714 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft L2A - Registry model: [Taylorcraft DCO-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-dco-65) (registry code 8850408) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4714 - Airframe hours: 1480 - Engines: Continental A-75-8 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David A. Koseruba - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1994, 10 hours before - Departed: 3SM - Destination: 5NC1, TARA FIELD, NC - Airport: 3SM, Shelbyville Municipal, runway 18, 3,732 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 20,750 total, 280 in this make and model, 19,873 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IND, 25 nm away ## 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 19970811021639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970811021639A), Aug 11, 1997: Tcrafk DCO65TCRAFT, Shelbyville, IN, Destroyed. Aircraft been stored, before takeoff, returned, smelled fuel, took off again, returned caught fire and burned. 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.