# NTSB MIA03LA118: Cessna 210E, N2328F, Tallahassee, FL, June 3, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 3, 2003, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Tallahassee, FL - Coordinates: 30.384445, -84.35028 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3844&lon=-84.3503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Tampa FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57178 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57178/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA118 ## Probable cause The arching of the battery electric wire which was chaffing against the main steel braided fuel hose resulting in fire in the engine compartment. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, standing - engine(s) operating - fuel system,line - chafed (cause) - electrical system,electric wiring - arcing (cause) - engine compartment - fire ## Analysis The pilot observed fire coming through the floor rudder pedal area as he was calling for clearance on the ramp. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A mechanic noted a battery electrical wire that had been arcing and chaffing against a steel braided fuel hose evidence of the possible source of the fire. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 2003, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 210E, N2328F, operated and registered to an individual, caught fire while standing after engine start at the Tallahassee Regional Airport, Tallahassee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time. According to the pilot, the airplane was on the ramp with the engine running, he was reading back an instrument clearance, when he observed fire coming from the engine compartment through the rudder pedal area of the airplane. He instructed his two passengers to exit the aircraft immediately, placed the engine fuel mixture to the off position and, exited the airplane. Moments later, the fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A witness who is a mechanic stated that, he was about 30 feet aft and to the right of the aircraft at the time of the fire. He noticed a fuel leak which was substantial and appeared to be coming from the engine compartment at the lower edge and slightly to the left of the centerline of the firewall. He also stated it appeared the electrical system and the fuel pumps were on due to the fact the amount of fuel spilling out onto the ground, at the time of the fire. Fire personnel had a difficult time extinguishing the fire. Every time the fire was extinguished with foam, moments later the fire would re-ignite. Severe smoke in the cockpit prevented the fire personnel from turning off the master switch or turning the fuel selector valve to the off position. Water had to be sprayed into the cockpit resulting in lost of electrical power. The fuel stopped, and at this point the fuel selector was placed to the off position, containing the source of the fire. In addition the witness, also stated that, when he was disconnecting the battery. He noted a battery cable was in contact with and arching with a steel braided fuel hose on the left side of the firewall. He explained this fuel hose was the main supply of fuel, which runs down toward to the nose wheel well where the fuel strainer is located. He also mentioned he was not able to examine the engine compartment in details, but the chafing of the wire with the fuel hose could have been the source of the fire. The airplane's logbooks were released to Mr.Jason Steele claims adjuster for Phoenix Aviation Managers, Inc., on behalf of the owner's insurance company, on July 18, 2003. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2328F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2328F-2014-06-06), registration cancelled 2014-06-06, S/N 21058528, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210E - Registry model: [Cessna 210E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210e) (registry code 2073416) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21058528 - Airframe hours: 4870.32 - Engines: Continental IO-550F2B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bernard F Delaney - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 29, 2003, 9 hours before - Departed: TLH, TALLAHASSEE, FL - Destination: KSPI, Springfield, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TLH, Tallahassee Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 28, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 1,502 total, 309 in this make and model, 1,358 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: TLH ## 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 20030603015419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030603015419A), Jun 3, 2003: Cessna 210E, Tallahassee, FL, Destroyed. (-23) On June 3, 2003, at 1630 local time, a Cessna 210-E engine caught fire while on the ground at Tallahassee regional airport (tlh), Tallahassee, Florida… 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.