# NTSB MIA00LA018: Piper PA-22-150, N2648P, Newberry, SC, October 29, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 1999, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Newberry, SC - Coordinates: 34.270446, -81.610382 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2704&lon=-81.6104&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 68-05-01](https://openairdocs.org/ad/68-05-01) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 47678 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47678/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA018 ## Probable cause a fire in the cockpit caused by the exhaust muffler, which resulted in a forced landing in a field, and subsequent impact with a berm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, cruise - exhaust system,muffler - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis After 30 minutes in flight the pilot reported that smoke started entering from right side defrost duct. He elected to land at the nearest airport,14 nautical miles north of his location. About 3 miles from the airport fire started inside the cockpit near the right side rudder pedals. He decreased power and started descending towards a field. The last thing he remembered was crossing power lines. A detailed inspection of the muffler revealed, the muffler had two areas of burn-through damage. The aircraft fire wall had an area about 14 inches in diameter with indications of severe overheating. It was concluded that a faulty exhaust muffler caused the aircraft's firewall to overheat and smolder the aircraft's firewall insulation. The maintence records did not indicate that the exhaust muffler had ever been replaced. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 1999, about 1050 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N2648P, registered to a private individual, impacted with the ground during a forced landing near Newberry, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private-rated pilot reported serious injuries. The flight had departed from Thomson, Georgia, en route to Salisbury, North Carolina, at 1000. According to the pilot, "...after 30 minutes in flight smoke started entering from right side defrost duct...my GPS gave [nearest airport]...14 nautical miles at 360 degrees heading...opened my window vents because my eyes were starting to water. Approximately 3 miles from airport fire started inside near right side rudder pedals...I decreased all power at about 3,000 feet msl [and] started descending towards field that I saw. I next remember crossing power lines and that was the last thing I can remember...." A detailed inspection of the muffler was conducted by the FAA. The FAA inspector stated that the inspection revealed, "...the muffler had two areas of burn-through damage. The aircraft fire wall had an area about 14 inches in diameter with indications of severe overheating." In addition, the inspector wrote that it was his opinion, "...that a faulty exhaust muffler caused the aircraft's firewall to overheat and smolder the aircraft firewall insulation. The maintence records do not indicate that the exhaust muffler had ever been replaced." The total time on the airframe was 1845 hours. The last inspection on the muffler was April 8, 1999, when AD 68-05-01, was complied with. AD 68-05-01, "...Inspect...the engine exhaust muffler and shroud assembly (including the internal baffle tube and tail pipe), carburetor heat shroud and air duct, support braces, clamps and brackets, exhaust stacks and manifolds...(f) remove muffler assembly...and visually inspect exterior and interior surfaces with a probe light and mirror for signs of cracks, corrosion, burn-throughs, heat damage, collapsed stack, or weld separations...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2648P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2648P-2018-01-12), registration cancelled 2018-01-12, S/N 22-2986, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-2986 - Airframe hours: 1845 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A1A 150 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steve M. Sifford - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 1999, 11 hours before - Departed: HQU, THOMSON, GA - Destination: RUQ, SALISBURY, NC - Airport: 27J, Newberry ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 165 total, 113 in this make and model, 115 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CAE, 40 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19991029044329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991029044329A), Oct 29, 1999: Piper PA22150, Newberry, SC, No damage. Y-23) the pilot enroute from thompson, GA. To salisbury, NC, had an in-flight fire and made an emergency landing in a soybean field near the Newberry county… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.