- Date
- July 6, 1994, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Chico, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7MVMeyers ME 200
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 12, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940706027209A
- Case key
- 28796
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A separation of the exhaust pipe from the cabin heat control valve and the lack of insulation on electrical wiring between the ammeter and the avionics bus.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot experienced an in-flight fire due to a separation of the end of the exhaust pipe where the exhaust shroud/muff connects to the cabin heat control valve. Also found was a large electric wire between the volt/ammeter and the avionics bus completely void of any insulation. The logbooks indicated no electrical maintenance had been performed for some time.
Factual narrative
On July 6, 1994, at 1145 hours Pacific daylight time, the pilot of a Meyers ME 200 aircraft, N7MV, experienced an in-flight fire shortly after departing the airport at Chico, California. The pilot returned to the airport and, after landing, he and his passenger jumped from the aircraft due to smoke and fire in the cockpit. The aircraft received substantial fire damage. The pilot and his passenger received minor injuries.
The examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left exhaust pipe from the engine had broken in two. The break was at the aft end of the pipe where the exhaust shroud/muff connects to the cabin heat control valve. Examination of the burned wires showed some patches of insulation remaining. However, a large electrical wire between the electronic volt/ammeter and the avionics bus was completely void of any insulation. The pilot indicated no electrical problems and the logbooks revealed no electronic maintenance had been accomplished for some time.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7MV
- Reported as
- Meyers ME 200
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 289
- Airframe hours
- 2,300
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-A, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert R. Clark
- Registered owner
- Robert R. Clark
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 6, 1994 · 35 hours before
- Destination
- 052 · Yuba City, CA
- Airport
- CIC · Chico Municipal, runway 31R, 6,724 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,875 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 1,875 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.