# NTSB MIA82IA110: Piper PA-31-350, N41045, Tallahassee, FL, April 3, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 2, 1982, 19:15 local (Apr 3, 1982, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Tallahassee, FL
- Coordinates: 30.430643, -84.261001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4306&lon=-84.2610&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 2, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72787
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA82IA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72787/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82IA110

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - exhaust system,clamp - brittle fracture (cause)
  - miscellaneous - inadequate, manufacturer (cause)
  - material defect(inadequate quality of material), manufacturer (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE CRUISING AT 8000 FEET, THE RIGHT ALTERNATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PILOT ACCOMPLISHED THE REQUIRED PROCEDURES FOR AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE NOTICED AN AREA OF DISCOLORATION ON THE INBOARD NACELLE OF THE RIGHT ENGINE AND SAW FLAMES INSIDE THE NACELLE. THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND MADE A SINGLE ENGINE LANDING AT TALLAHASSEE, FL. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A BROKEN TURBOCHARGER EXHAUST CLAMP WHICH ALLOWED THE EXHAUST TUBE TO SEPARATE FROM THE TURBO. HIGH TEMPERATURE EXHAUST GASES THEN STARTED THE FIRE WHICH DISABLED THE ALTERNATOR WIRING. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THIS CLAMP AND SEVERAL OTHERS THAT HAD FAILED INDICATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURE EMBRITTLEMENT. THE LACK OF HIGH TEMPERATURE DUCTILITY WAS ATTRIBUTED TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT WHEN THE CLAMPS WERE MANUFACTURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41045](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41045-1989-03-20), registration cancelled 1989-03-20, S/N 318252020 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-8252020
- Airframe hours: 63
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Moore Data Systems, Inc.
- Registered owner: Moore Data Systems, Inc.
- Departed: SRQ, SARASOTA, FL
- Destination: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TLH, Tallahassee Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,584 total, 83 in this make and model, 1,405 as pilot in command, 156 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19820402045799I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820402045799I), Apr 2, 1982: Piper PA31350, Tallahassee, FL, Minor damage. Alternator failure, fire in right engine. Shut down engine, broken clamp allowed tailpipe separation. Faulty part.

## Other investigations on N41045 (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW83FA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA027), Oct 31, 1982: Piper PA-31-350 (N41045), Baton Rouge, LA, destroyed, 3 fatal

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.

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