# NTSB MIA00LA079: Beech D50E, N14VU, Myrtle Beach, SC, January 31, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 31, 2000, 16:27 local (21:27 UTC) - Place: Myrtle Beach, SC - Coordinates: 33.690311, -78.89035 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6903&lon=-78.8903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48569 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48569/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA079 ## Probable cause The on-ground fire caused by fuel flowing out the fuel vent and near the exhaust of the left engine resulting in the on-ground fire and substantial damage to the airplane. A finding in the investigation was that all four fuel tanks had been filled before the pilot started the engines for the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, taxi - refueling - performed, fbo personnel ## Analysis The pilot stated that after landing, all four fuel tanks were filled. He performed a preflight to the airplane and started both engines with no discrepancies noted. While taxiing to takeoff he performed a flight control check of the ailerons and while looking at the left aileron, he noted discoloration of the paint on the upper wing surface outboard of the engine nacelle. He requested fire rescue assistance from the ground controller and taxied to an open area of the ramp, where he secured the airplane. After exiting the airplane he noted fire at the outboard fuel tank vent that was leaking fuel. He discharged a hand held fire extinguisher he obtained from the airplane and nearly extinguished the fire. The airport fire rescue then responded and extinguished the fire using only water. According to the airport fire department incident report, vented fuel ignited by exhaust manifold was cited as the 'preliminary cause' of the fire. ## Factual narrative On January 31, 2000, about 1627 eastern standard time, a Beech D50E, N14VU, registered to a private individual, experienced a fire at the left wing while taxiing to takeoff at Myrtle Beach International Airport, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the airline transport-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that after landing following a 4.8 hour block time flight, all four fuel tanks were filled. He performed a preflight to the airplane and started both engines with no discrepancies noted. While taxiing to takeoff he performed a flight control check of the ailerons and while looking at the left aileron, he noted discoloration of the paint on the upper wing surface outboard of the engine nacelle. He requested fire rescue assistance from the ground controller and taxied to an open area of the ramp, where he secured the airplane. After exiting the airplane he noted fire at the outboard fuel tank vent which was leaking fuel. He discharged a hand held fire extinguisher he obtained from the airplane and nearly extinguished the fire. The airport fire rescue then responded and extinguished the fire using only water. According to the airport fire department incident report, vented fuel ignited by exhaust manifold was cited as the "preliminary cause" of the fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14VU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N14VU), registered now, S/N DH-326, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech D50E - Registry model: [Beech D50E](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d50e) (registry code 1152522) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-480 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-480-series) (registry code 41527, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: DH-326 - Airframe hours: 4787 - Engines: Lycoming IO-720 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph G. Fabick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1999, 7 hours before - Departed: MYR - Destination: SUA, STUART, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MYR, Myrtle Beach Int'L ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 18,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 17,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MYR ## 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 20000131005049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000131005049A), Jan 31, 2000: Beech D50E, Myrtle Beach, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft fuel tanks were topped off prior to flight. On start the left there was a light back fire. The aircraft started taxi and noticed the top of the… 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.