FTW85FQG02

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-140 · Big Spring, TX · August 24, 1985

Accident · No injuriesFinal report
Date
August 23, 1985, 20:35 local (Aug 24, 1985, 01:35 UTC)
Place
Big Spring, TX
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N7401RPiper PA-28-140
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19850823040319A
Case key
21578

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

FireTakeoff - initial climb
Exhaust system,muffler - disconnectedCause
Exhaust system,stack - not engagedCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
FireLanding - roll

Analysis

The acft cockpit/cabin filled with smoke after takeoff. The plt & passg smelled an odor of electrical wiring burning and saw fire at the firewall near the rudder pedals. The acft was turned 180 degrees and landed on rwy 35. The 2 occupants immediately egressed. Investigation showed that the eng left exhaust stack, pn 63726-O2, which should be inserted into the muffler assem, pn 66704-00 and secured with clamp assem, pn 65442-03 was displaced away from the end of the muffler allowing hot gases to be directed onto the firewall in the area of the starter solenoid and brake reservoir. The securing clamp assem was present on the muffler with the nut installed and clamp flush with the outside diameter of the muffler extension. The locater pin was extending thru the muffler extension. The exhaust stack had the locator hold and inspection did not show that the pin was worn or sheared to allow disengagement. Fire damaged the acft from the firewall to the baggage/rear aera. Fluid from the melted brake reservoir appeared to add to the fire.

Aircraft

Registration
N7401R
Reported as
Piper PA-28-140
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-25002
Airframe hours
4,017
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E2A, 140 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
Both
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Jack H. Romans
Registered owner
C. Ray Owsley
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 16, 1985 · 25 hours before
Destination
E02 · Odessa, TX
Airport
21XS · Big Spring, runway 35, 8,800 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
58
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Flight hours
2,380 total · 49 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 59 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.