# NTSB FTW87FA197: Piper PA-32R, N8159S, Mexia, TX, August 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1987, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Mexia, TX
- Coordinates: 31.669429, -96.479484 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6694&lon=-96.4795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22268
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA197
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22268/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA197

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Fire, cruise
  - maintenance - inadequate, company/operator management (cause)
  - maintenance,100-hour inspection - not performed, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - exhaust system,clamp - loose (cause)
  - exhaust system - leak (cause)
  - vacuum system - burned
  - fuselage,cabin - smoke (contributing factor)
  - initiated
  - precautionary landing - discontinued, pilot in command (cause)
  - climb - initiated
  - ignition system,ignition harness - burned (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT NOTICED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT & STARTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AT MEXIA, TX, WHICH WAS NEARBY. HOWEVER, DRG THE DSCNT TO LND, THE SMOKE DISSIPATED, SO HE ELECTED TO CONT TO THE DESTN. DRG THE CLIMB BACK TO ALT, SMOKE REAPPEARED & WAS FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF ENG POWER. THE PLT THEN TRIED TO MAKE A FORCED LNDG AT MEXIA; HOWEVER, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALT TO REACH THE ARPT. WHILE LNDG ABOUT 1 MI FROM THE ARPT, THE ACFT ROLLED THRU A BARBED WIRE FENCE & WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED A RETAINING NUT WAS MISSING FROM A CLAMP NEAR 2 MATING SURFACES OF THE EXHAUSTSYS NEAR THE #6 CYLINDER. SUBSEQUENTLY, GASES FROM THE EXHAUST SYS BURNED THRU A VACUUM HOSE & EXTENSIVELY BURNED A NUMBER OF WIRES IN THE IGNITION SYS. THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN 176 HRS SINCE THE LAST ENG & AIRFRAME INSPN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8159S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8159S), registered now, S/N 32R-8029059 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (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: 32R8029059
- Airframe hours: 2172
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Texas Partners Flying Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1986, 176 hours before
- Departed: HOU, HOUSTON, TX
- Destination: DAL, DALLAS, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,615 total, 40 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTW, 88 nm away

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.

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