# NTSB ERA24LA302: Piper PA-32RT-300T, N184VA, Myerstown, PA, July 4, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 4, 2024, 04:00 local (08:00 UTC) - Place: Myerstown, PA · On airport. - Coordinates: 40.352128, -76.329644 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3521&lon=-76.3296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194673 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA302 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194673/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194673 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA302 ## Probable cause The failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure a B-nut on the No. 5 cylinder fuel injector line, resulting in a fuel leak and engine fire. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that preflight and ground operations were normal. During the takeoff roll, he noticed a flashing exhaust gas temperature indication and elected to abort the takeoff. He pulled off onto a turnaround to troubleshoot the problem. A red “X” then appeared over the oil pressure display and one of the passengers noticed flames emanating from the right side of the engine cowling. The pilot shut down the engine, exited the airplane with the passengers, and attempted to extinguish the flames with a fire bottle and blankets. Postaccident examination of the wreckage determined that there was substantial fire and heat damage to the engine and forward fuselage. Further examination of the engine area revealed concentrated damage near cylinder Nos. 3 and 5. The B-nut on the stainless-steel fuel injector line between the No. 5 cylinder and the right fuel injector manifold was loose, and was less than finger-tight. The turbocharger was located aft of this loose B-nut. No other fuel system fittings were found to be loose. An annual inspection was completed on the airframe and engine two days before the accident, including maintenance that required removing and reinstalling the fuel injector lines. It is likely that the No. 5 cylinder B-nut was not securely tightened when reinstalled, allowing it to loosen and spray fuel on the turbocharger and exhaust system, resulting in an engine fire. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2024, about 0400 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T airplane, N184VA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Myerstown, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was preparing to take off on runway 1 at Deck Airport (9D4), Myerstown, Pennsylvania, with a destination of Wayne County Airport (EKQ), Monticello, Kentucky, when the accident occurred. The preflight inspection and ground operations were uneventful. During the takeoff roll, at about 50-60 knots, the pilot noticed a flashing exhaust gas temperature indication and elected to abort the takeoff. He pulled off onto the turnaround area at the north end of the runway to troubleshoot the problem. A red “X” then appeared over the oil pressure display and one of the passengers noticed flames emanating from the right side of the engine cowling. The pilot shut down the engine, exited the airplane with the passengers, and attempted to extinguish the flames with a fire bottle and blankets. The local fire department was called to assist in extinguishing the fire. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. He reported that there was substantial fire and heat damage to the forward fuselage and engine. A subsequent examination of the wreckage was performed by FAA inspectors. A majority of the fire and heat damage appeared to be concentrated near cylinder Nos. 3 and 5. Further examination revealed that the B-nut on the stainless steel fuel injector line between the No. 5 cylinder and the right fuel injector manifold was loose, and was less than finger-tight. The turbocharger was located aft of this loose B-nut. No other fuel system fittings were found to be loose. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that an annual inspection of the airframe and engine was completed on July 2, 2024, two days before the accident. The engine logbook entry stated that that a fuel system pressure check was performed during the inspection. The mechanic who performed the annual inspection reported that the owner asked to have the fuel injectors cleaned due to an intermittent rough idle. The injector lines were removed at the injector, and the injectors were removed and cleaned. The injectors were reinstalled in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The injector lines were also inspected during the cleaning process. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N184VA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N184VA-2025-05-31), registration cancelled 2025-05-31, S/N 32R-7887082, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7887082 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 3866 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 2024, 1 hours before - Destination: EKQ, Monticello, KY - Flight plan: VFR/IFR - Airport: 9D4, Deck Airport - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 21, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,895 total, 442 in this make and model, 1,839 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KRDG, 17 nm away - METAR: METAR KRDG 040754Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 22/16 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP163 T02220156 ## 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 20240704010009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240704010009A), Jul 4, 2024: Piper PA-32RT-300T, Myerstown, PA, Substantial damage. On the morning of July 4, 2024, the airman arrived at Deck Airport (9D4) twenty minutes before the passengers were to arrive in order to prefilght and fuel… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194673. 12.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17473737&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17474480&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Mechanic statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17474982&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2a%20N184VA%20Mechanic%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Excerpts - aircraft and engine logbooks (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 6.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17474882&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Excerpts%20-%20Aircraft%20and%20Engine%20Logbooks_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 715 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17475079&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20Investigation%20Photographs-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.