# NTSB LAX83FA002: Swearingen SA-226TC, N63SA, Palm Springs, CA, October 16, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 15, 1982, 19:57 local (Oct 16, 1982, 02:57 UTC)
- Place: Palm Springs, CA
- Coordinates: 33.849975, -116.560203 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8500&lon=-116.5602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 17 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72144
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72144/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA002

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire/explosion, standing - engine(s) operating
  - light condition - dark night
  - instrument light(s) - contamination (cause)
  - instrument light(s) - arcing (cause)
  - hydraulic system,line - contamination (cause)
  - hydraulic system,line - dumped (cause)
  - hydraulic system,line - failure,partial (cause)
  - hydraulic system,line - leak (cause)
  - hydraulic system,line - burned (cause)
  - fuselage,instrument/electrical panel - burned (cause)
  - oxygen system,crew - exploded (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE AT THE GATE WITH THE PASSENGERS SEATED & THE ENGINES RUNNING, THE COPILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN UP HIS PANEL LIGHTS WITH THE RHEOSTAT LOCATED ON THE FAR RIGHT FORWARD PORTION OF THE SIDE ELECTRICAL PANEL. AT THAT INSTANT SMOKE BEGAN TO ERUPT AT HIS RIGHT KNEE POSITION. THE PASSENGERS WERE EVACUATED & THE COCKPIT FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE GROUND CREW. THE RHEOSTAT WAS FOUND TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH HYDRAULIC FLUID, & HEAVY ARCING WAS FOUND ON THE RHEOSTAT AT THE FULL HIGH POSITION. THREE HYDRAULIC LINES WERE FOUND TO BE BURNED IN HALF FORWARD & UNDER THE CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL ACCESS DOOR. EXAMINATION OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE REVEALED STRESS CRACKS DUE TO CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION OR FATIGUE, PERMITTING BRAKE FLUID TO ESCAPE INTO THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE BRAKE FLUID WAS IGNITED BY THE ARCING COPILOT'S RHEOSTAT, & THE FIRE REACHED AN OXYGEN LINE WITHIN SECONDS CAUSING A BLOW-OUT HOLE THRU THE FUSELAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63SA-1993-07-09), registration cancelled 1993-07-09, S/N TC222 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-226TC
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA226TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa226tc) (registry code 8780404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC222
- Airframe hours: 11631
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 840 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Borrego Springs Airline
- Registered owner: Ford Motor Credit Co.
- Departed: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA
- Destination: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PSP, Palm Springs

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 5,100 total, 3,600 in this make and model, 4,700 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 165 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19821015053109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821015053109A), Oct 15, 1982: Swrngn SA226TC, Palm Springs, CA, Substantial damage. Copilots panel light reostat arced, ignited brake fluid leaking from brake line. Explosion from burned oxygen line.

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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