# NTSB LAX87IA029: British Aerospace BAE 146-200, N363PS, Santa Ana, CA, October 31, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 31, 1986, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Santa Ana, CA
- Coordinates: 33.709068, -117.870178 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7091&lon=-117.8702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 42 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25434
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87IA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25434/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87IA029

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,line fitting - separation (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - leak (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

JUST AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE NUMBER 3 ENGINE WHICH WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE ON BOARD FIRE BOTTLES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A SECONDARY FUEL LINE HAD PULLED OUT OF A B-NUT FERRULE FITTING AT THE FUEL FLOW DIVIDER MANIFOLD WHICH ALLOWED FUEL TO DISCHARGE INTO THE ENGINE COWLING AREA. THE FAA SDR DATA BASE CONTAINED A RECORD OF 5 PRIOR OCCASIONS WHERE EITHER A PRIMARY OR SECONDARY FUEL LINE HAD PULLED OUT OF THE B-NUT FERRULE FITTING. A FACTORY MODIFICATION TO THE FUEL LINES WAS IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLIMENTATION ON A FLEET WIND BASIS, BUT HAD NOT YET BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ON THIS AIRCRAFT. THE FLT LANDED AT THE DEPARTURE ARPT AFTER THE EMERGENCY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N363PS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BRITISH AEROSPACE BAE 146-200 (BAE 146-20)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E2046
- Airframe hours: 2741
- Engines: LYCOMING ALF502 7500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Pacific Southwest Airlines
- Registered owner: North American Aircraft
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Destination: SFO, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,814 total, 317 in this make and model, 142 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SNA, 1 nm away

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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