- Date
- June 17, 1996, 09:27 local (14:27 UTC)
- Place
- Houston, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N41HRHarmon RV-3 Rocket
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 17, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960617014179A
- Case key
- 19865
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The improper installation of the fuel line with insufficient clearance from the exhaust system, resulting in a hole being burned into the fuel line.
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.
Analysis
During landing on runway 12L at the William P. Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas, the pilot noticed flames between his feet. He exited the runway to the left and deplaned. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that a high pressure fuel line on the right side of the engine, had a hole burned into it. The fuel line had been improperly installed to within one inch of the exhaust pipe. Further examination revealed that the right main landing gear had been damaged by a 'previous landing,' and an aft engine mount had a break that 'appeared to be old.' The airplane was destroyed by the fire.
Factual narrative
On June 17, 1996, at 0927 central daylight time, a Harmon RV-3 Rocket, N41HR, registered to and operated by a private owner as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, was destroyed by fire during landing near Houston, Texas. The private pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from Madison, Mississippi, at 0800.
The pilot reported that he landed on runway 12L at the William P. Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas. During the roll out, when the tail touched down, he noticed flames between his feet. He exited the runway to the left and deplaned.
Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that a high pressure fuel line on the right side of the engine, had a hole burned into it. The fuel line had been improperly installed to within one inch of the exhaust pipe. Further examination revealed that the right main landing gear had been damaged by a "previous landing," and an aft engine mount had a break that "appeared to be old."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N41HR
- Reported as
- Harmon RV-3 Rocket (RV-3 ROCKE)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 006
- Airframe hours
- 729
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert Schneeflock
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 3, 1996 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- MB0 · Madison, MS
- Destination
- HOU
- Airport
- HOU · William P. Hobby, runway 12L, 5,148 × 100 ft, concrete
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
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,596 total · 50 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HOU
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.