# NTSB LAX85FA238: Beech V35A, N4RW, Santa Monica, CA, May 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 4, 1985, 09:48 local (16:48 UTC)
- Place: Santa Monica, CA
- Coordinates: 34.009525, -118.459381 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0095&lon=-118.4594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24502
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA238
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24502/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA238

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, taxi - from landing
  - fuel system - undetermined (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - leak (cause)
  - fuselage,crew compartment - fumes
  - initiated
  - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed
  - engine assembly,other - fire (cause)
  - fuselage,crew compartment - smoke (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command
  - airport fire/rescue service,notification - delayed
  - information unclear(phraseology), atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER DEPTG & CLIMBING TO 4500', THE PLT & HIS PLT RATED PAX NOTED A FUEL ODOR & RETURNED TO THE ARPT TO LAND. BFR LNDG,THE PLT CALLED THE TOWER (TWR), BUT DIDN'T ADVISE TWR PSNL OF THE FUEL ODOR OR OF A PSBL PRBLM. AS THE ACFT WAS TURNING OFF THE RWY, FIRE & SMOKE ERUPTED IN THE ENG COMPARTMENT & SPREAD BEYOND THE FIREWALL TO THE COCKPIT. THE PLT & BOTH PAXDEPLANED. A TWR CONTROLLER SAW THE SMOKE & INITIATED FIRE/RESCUE RESPONSE, BUT DIDN'T USE PROPER TERMINOLOGY. FIRE DEPT PSNL WERE DISPATCHED APRX 1 MIN LATER. BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED, THE ACFT WAS BADLY DAMAGED. MOST OF THE ENG'S FIRE DAMAGE WAS ON ITS LEFT SIDE. WHEN TESTED, SVRL FUEL LINES/COMPONENTS LEAKED, BUT THEY HAD FIRE DAMAGE & THE EXACT IN-FLTFUEL LEAK WAS NOT VERIFIED. FUEL STAIN/DISCOLORATION WAS NOTED WHERE THE AIR THROTTLE METERING UNIT LEAKED AT AN O-RING.THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AT THE IDLE FUEL ADJUSTMENT SCREW, ALTHO IT WAS 'FROZEN' IN A FIXED PSN. ALSO, BEECH HAD RCMDD REPLACING THE FUEL LINES EVERY 5 YRS, BUT NO RECORD WAS FND OF THEIR REPLACEMENT DURING THE LAST 5 YRS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4RW-2014-10-06), registration cancelled 2014-10-06, S/N D-8715, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35A
- Registry model: [Beech V35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35a) (registry code 1151544) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D8715
- Airframe hours: 3705
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harold M. Sanderson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 1984, 82 hours before
- Departed: SMO
- Destination: RIF, RICHFIELD, UT
- Airport: SMO, Santa Monica Muni, runway 21, 4,987 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 2,900 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SMO

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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