# NTSB LAX84IA147: Piper PA-31-350, N35479, Redding, CA, January 20, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 20, 1984, 06:43 local (14:43 UTC)
- Place: Redding, CA
- Coordinates: 40.599563, -122.460586 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5996&lon=-122.4606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24036
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84IA147
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24036/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84IA147

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, taxi - to takeoff
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - air cond/heating/pressurization - corroded (contributing factor)
  - air cond/heating/pressurization - cracked (cause)
  - air cond/heating/pressurization - loose (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - leak (cause)
  - fuselage - fire (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE TAXIING TO TAKEOFF, SMOKE WAS NOTED IN THE COCKPIT AREA, SHORTLY AFTER THE PLT ACTIVATED THE HEATER IGNITION SWITCH. THE PLT IMMEDIATELY STOPPED & SECURED THE ACFT & ASSISTED THE PASSENGERS IN DEPLANING. AN EXAM OF THE JANITROL HEATER, MODEL B4050, REVEALED THE AFT SECTION OF THE TUBE ASSEMBLY HAD CRACKED; THE INNER TUBE ASSEMBLY WAS CORRODED & A B-NUT WAS 'FINGER TIGHT.' ALSO, THERE WAS FIRE DAMAGE IN THE NOSE SECTION OF THE ACFT, NEAR THE HEATER. THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE SAID THAT AD-82-07-03, INSPECTION OF THE HEATER TUBE ASSEMBLY, WAS COMPLIED WITH ON 11/14/83.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N35479](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35479-1992-02-03), registration cancelled 1992-02-03, S/N 318052024 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-8052024
- Airframe hours: 2431
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Afs Airlines
- Registered owner: Maurice J. Dalaimo
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 1984, 16 hours before
- Destination: AVB, ARCATA, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Redding Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,600 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDD

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Incident 19840120055209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840120055209I), Jan 20, 1984: Piper PA31350, Redding, CA, Substantial damage. Turned heater on while taxiing. Smoke permeated cockpit. Evacuation. Tube assembly of janitrol heater cracked.

## Other investigations on N35479 (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX89LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA199), May 20, 1989: Piper PA-31-350 (N35479), Arcata, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOTS INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTOR POSITION. THESE RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION TO BOTH ENGINES WHEN THE AUX TANKS RAN DRY AND THE MAINS HAD FUEL…

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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