# NTSB ERA20LA285: Lake LA4, N2994P, West Palm Beach, FL, August 14, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 14, 2020, 17:18 local (21:18 UTC) - Place: West Palm Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.845556, -80.221664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8456&lon=-80.2217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 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): 101798 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101798/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101798 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA285 ## Probable cause An on-ground engine fire, the source of which could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The rear-facing engine was mounted on top of the cabin on the amphibious airplane. During the landing roll, the pilot opened the airplane’s gull wing door and a fire erupted from the rear of the cabin, travelling forward. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane as it rolled off the runway into a grass area, came to rest upright, and was consumed by fire. Review of maintenance logbooks revealed that an overhauled engine was installed about 5 hours before the accident, which included a new fuel supply flex hose and oil cooler; however, due to the extensive thermal damage, examination could not determine the source of the fire. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 2020, about 1718 eastern daylight time, a Lake LA4 amphibious airplane, N2994P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near West Palm Beach, Florida. The pilot received serious injuries and the pilot-rated passenger was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, they departed North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport (F45), West Palm Beach, Florida for a local flight. After about 1 hour and 20 minutes, they landed back at F45. During the landing roll, he opened the airplane’s gull wing door and instantly heard “a swish of air enter the cabin,” followed by a flash of fire that came from the rear cabin forward. Both occupants jumped out of the airplane as it continued down the runway and into the grass. After the airplane stopped, the pilot ran back to the cockpit and turned off the master switch and fuel selector valve. Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane came to rest upright in the grass next to runway 14. The majority of the fuselage and engine were consumed by fire. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The airplane and engine were recovered and examined by an FAA inspector and a mechanic. After reviewing the on-scene photographs and the airframe, the mechanic reported that the fire started in the engine pylon, where the electric fuel boost pump and header fuel tank are located. It is possible that the fire could have originated from the electric fuel boost pump, the header fuel tank, or the fuel supply flex hose. Review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that, 5.3 hours before the accident, an overhauled engine was installed on the airplane and the fuel flex hose and oil cooler were replaced. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2994P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2994P-2021-03-06), registration cancelled 2021-03-06, S/N 956, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lake LA4 (200) - Registry model: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-aeronautics-lake-la-4-200) (registry code 2400108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 956 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 3172 - Engines: Lycoming IO-260-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 2020, 6 hours before - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: F45, North Palm Beach County Genera, runway 14, 4,300 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 19,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 11,900 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 215 total, 85 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 3 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: F45, 12 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 20200814016989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200814016989A), Aug 14, 2020: Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4-200, West Palm Beach, FL, Destroyed. West Palm Beach, FL (F45): N2994P, LA42, heard a pop while landing. Aircraft caught on fire on taxiway while taxiing. Fire started behind the pilot area. Both… ## Other investigations on N2994P (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA98LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA078), Jan 24, 1998: Lake LA-4-200 (N2994P), Sarasota, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: inadequate clearance and fretting wear of the fitting/beam attachment to the angle/top beam, due to inadequate design, which resulted in fatigue and subsequent failure of the fitting/beam attachment… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101798. 7.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14421912&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Lake_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14421716&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine examination (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14422216&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Exam%20_%20Schmidt%20Aviation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14419838&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA20LA285-Rel.pdf - Wreckage release (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13848339&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20Release_N2994P_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.