# NTSB LAX87FA016: Beech K35, N107Q, Bakersfield, CA, October 15, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 15, 1986, 08:05 local (15:05 UTC)
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Coordinates: 35.539268, -118.909362 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5393&lon=-118.9094&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): 25353
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25353/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA016

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise
  - exhaust system,baffle - loose (cause)
  - maintenance,major repair - inadequate, manufacturer (cause)
  - exhaust system,manifold/pipe - separation (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fuel system,line - burned (cause)
  - throttle/power lever - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - mixture control,linkage - inoperative (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Fire, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 3,500 FEET WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOUCHING DOWN, TOWER PERSONNEL NOTIFIED THE PILOT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON FIRE. THE PILOT EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT AND AIRPORT FIRE EQUIPMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE THREE CYLINDERS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY SECURED DURING THE RECENT ENGINE OVERHAUL. THE FUEL PRESSURE LINE HAD BURNED AWAY AND REDIRECTED FUEL TO THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COWLING. THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN A TOTAL OF THREE HOURS SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF THE OVERHAULED ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N107Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N107Q-1997-02-19), registration cancelled 1997-02-19, S/N D5929 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH K35
- Registry model: [Beech K35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-k35) (registry code 1151524) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-5929
- Airframe hours: 2669
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-C 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Christopher J. Meoli
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 13, 1986, 3 hours before
- Departed: RHV, SAN JOSE, CA
- Destination: YUM, YUMA, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 413 total, 23 in this make and model, 313 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFL

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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