# NTSB LAX84FA283: Piper PA-22, N9718D, West Covina, CA, May 7, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1984, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: West Covina, CA
- Location: 34.0559° N, 117.9099° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of West Covina, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0559&lon=-117.9099&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23955
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA283
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23955/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA283

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise
  - fuel system,line fitting - loose (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - leak (cause)
  - fuselage,crew compartment - smoke
- Forced landing, landing
  - load jettison - performed, pilot in command
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

WHILE RETURNING TO THE ARPT & TOWING A BANNER, SMOKE ENTERED THE COCKPIT & A SMALL FIRE BEGAN BURING, FORWARD OF THE LEFT/LOWER PART OF THE FIREWALL. THE PLT TURNED THE ACFT TO LAND IN A FIELD. HE OPENED THE RIGHT CABING DOOR, ALL AIR VENTS & THE WINDOW ON THE LEFT SIDE, BUT THE FIRE & SMOKE BECAME WORSE. HE RELEASED THE BANNER IN AN OPEN FIELD & SLIPPED THE ACFT TO IMPROVE HIS ABILITY TO SEE DURING THE LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR FAILED & THE ACFT NOSED OVER & BURNED. THE PLT EXITED THE ACFT WITHOUT INJURIES, BUT WAS TREATED FOR SMOKE INHALATION. EVIDENCE OF AN INFLT FIRE WAS FOUND WHERE THE FUEL LINE WAS ROUTED IN THE AREA JUST FORWARD OF THE FIREWALL & THE PLT'S LEFT RUDDER PEDAL. THE FUEL STRAINER & SOME FUEL LINE CONNECTORS WERE LOCATED IN THIS AREA. THEY WERE NOT BURNED, BUT THEY HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO HEAT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9718D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 225530
- Airframe hours: 3014
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tommy L. King
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1984, 50 hours before
- Departed: CNO, CHINO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 627 total, 52 in this make and model, 554 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CNO, 12 nm away

## 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 19840507016159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840507016159A), May 7, 1984: Piper PA22160, West Covina, CA, Destroyed. Fire broke out forward of pilots left rudder pedal. Pilot made emergency landing and aircraft burned.

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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