# NTSB ERA18LA214: Pipistrel Sinus 912, N467L, West Palm Beach, FL, August 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 12, 2018, 08:40 local (12:40 UTC) - Place: West Palm Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.845832, -80.222221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8458&lon=-80.2222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98048/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98048 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA214 ## Probable cause The fatigue failure of the exhaust system manifold, which resulted in a ground fire after landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel SINUS 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md?model=05617MN), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md) - [Engine exhaust](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel SINUS 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800/cases.md?model=05617MN), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Pipistrel SINUS 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=05617MN), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot of a motor glider was taking off when he noticed the engine sounded "a little rough"; as he turned downwind, he started to smell smoke. He reported that he shut down the engine and returned for an uneventful landing. When the motor glider stopped, the pilot noticed flames below the right door; the flames grew and eventually consumed and destroyed the airplane. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the exhaust manifold had various cracks on the tubing. Examination of the exhaust manifold revealed the fracture and cracking of the exhaust system manifold tubes was due to fatigue. The fatigue cracks on the exhaust manifold were progressive in nature and had likely been present for some time before the accident, allowing exhaust gasses to begin escaping into the engine compartment before reaching the muffler assembly. It is likely that the exhaust gases caused a flammable condition the that resulted in a ground fire after landing. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2018, about 0840 eastern daylight time, Pipistral Sinus 912, N467L, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near West Palm Beach, Florida. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot of the motor glider, after dropping off a passenger from a previous flight, he restarted the engine and taxied out to runway 27R. After checking his instrument gauges, he made a radio call indicating that he would remain in the traffic pattern. During takeoff, he noticed the engine sounded "a little rough," and as he turned downwind, he started to smell smoke. He shut down the engine and returned for landing. The landing was uneventful, but when the aircraft stopped, the pilot noticed flames below the right door. After he exited the airplane, the flames grew and eventually consumed the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the cockpit was consumed by the fire. Examination of the motor glider's engine revealed that the exhaust manifold was cracked. Further examination of the exhaust manifold by the NTSB Materials Laboratory revealed the fracture and cracking of the exhaust manifold tubes was due to fatigue. In each manifold tube that failed, the fatigue cracking initiated on the inner surface near circumferential welds and propagated through to the outer surface, indicating that the fatigue cracks were likely present before the accident. The fatigue cracking at the fitting led to complete fracture, whereas the cracking in the opposite tube elbow had progressed only part way. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N467L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N467L-2020-05-08), registration cancelled 2020-05-08, S/N 213S9121106KIT49, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pipistrel SINUS 912 (No Series) - Registry model: [Pipistrel SINUS 912](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-sinus-912) (registry code 05617MN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-series) (registry code 55569, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 213S9121106KIT49 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 350 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL2 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 15, 2018, 51 hours before - Departed: F45, West Palm Beach, FL - Destination: F45, West Palm Beach, FL - Airport: F45, North Palm Beach County Genera, runway 27R, 3,679 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,402 total, 210 in this make and model, 1,597 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: F45 ## 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 20180812015189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180812015189A), Aug 12, 2018: Pipistrel SINUS 912, West Palm Beach, FL, Destroyed. On August 12, 2018, at approximately 0830 EST, a 2006 Pipistrel sinus, N467L, registered to pelican soaring LLC, operating under 14 CFR part 91 rules, by a… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98048. 20.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9120048&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report%20N467L%201808_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 706 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9121062&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record FAA inspection (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9120331&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20examination%20summary%20%20LA214-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 33 pages, 7.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9120818&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20logbook%20excerpts%20N467L_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 373 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9120827&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20LA214-Rel.pdf - Materials laboratory factual report (item 6, PDF, 19 pages, 23 photos, 9.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8309628&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=19-047%20-%20Materials%20Lab%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA18LA214)-Rel.pdf - Evidence control form (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9121172&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Evidence-Control-Form%20LA214_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.