# NTSB MIA01LA236: Piper PA-28-161, N554HA, Venice, FL, June 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 2001, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Venice, FL - Coordinates: 27.071388, -82.440277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0714&lon=-82.4403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 53684 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53684/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA236 ## Probable cause an on ground fire that started in the engine due to an excessive fuel flow causing the engine to flood. A factor in this accident was the pilot-in-command did not follow all the emergency procedures for an engine fire during start. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire/explosion, taxi - from landing - fluid,fuel - excessive flow/output (cause) - engine assembly - fire (cause) - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis During taxi after landing the airplane's engine stalled. The pilot's first attempt to restart was unsuccessful. He cleared the engine by attempting to restart with full throttle and the mixture in idle cutoff. On his second start attempt the engine again failed to start, and upon seeing smoke, he ceased cranking the engine, and exited the airplane… Most of the fire damage was to the left side of the engine compartment. The airplane had a 2-year history of intermittent stalling problems after landing. The carburetor had been replaced on four occasions, including the day of the fire. The fuel and ignition systems had been checked repeatedly during troubleshooting and various repairs accomplished to include spark replacement, internal magneto timing, and fuel filter cleaning. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 2001, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N554HA, owned and operated by Venice Flying Service Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 test flight had an engine fire during taxi, and after landing at the Venice Airport, Venice, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airline transport rated-pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated from the Venice Airport at 0930. According to the pilot, after landing and exiting the runway, "the engine stall[ed]. When I was trying to restart some smoke start[ed] to come out from the engine. I crank it a little bit longer then exit[ed] the airplane as it was burning." Note: The pilot operator handbook (POH) for the Piper PA-28-161 states, "...if fire continues more than a few seconds, the fire should be extinguished by the best avialable external means...the fuel selector valves should be "OFF" and the mixture at idle cut-off if an external fire extinguishing method is used." According to an FAA inspector, "…[the pilot's] first attempt to restart was unsuccessful. He cleared the engine by cranking with full throttle and the mixture in idle cutoff. On his second attempt to start the engine, the engine again failed to start, and upon seeing smoke, he ceased cranking the engine… The aircraft was positioned on the taxiway 90 degrees to the prevailing wind. As a result most of the fire damage is to the left side of the engine compartment." In addition, the inspector reported that the airplane had a 2-year history of "intermittent stalling problems after landing." The carburetor had been replaced on four occasions, including the day of the fire. The fuel and ignition systems had been checked repeatedly during troubleshooting and various repairs accomplished to include spark replacement, internal magneto timing, and fuel filter cleaning. The accident was never reported to the NTSB. An FAA inspector discovered the wreckage on October 26, 2001, during a routine inspection of the fixed base operator's facilities. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N554HA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N554HA-2013-01-31), registration cancelled 2013-01-31, S/N 28-7715134, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7715134 - Airframe hours: 11528 - Engines: Lycoming O-320D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Huffman Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 26, 2001 - Departed: VNC, Venice, FL - Destination: Venice, FL - Airport: VNC, Venice Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 18, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,940 total, 350 in this make and model, 1,840 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg ## 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 20010614034569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010614034569A), Jun 14, 2001: Piper PA28151, Venice, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 14, 2001, at 1030 EDT, a Piper PA-28, N554HA, registered to Venice flying service, experienced an engine compartment fire after landing at Venice… 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.