# NTSB MIA95LA190: Maule MX7-235, N334BL, Polk City, FL, July 25, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 25, 1995, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Polk City, FL
- Coordinates: 28.18032, -81.820777 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1803&lon=-81.8208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 19, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA190
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37804/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA190

## Probable cause

A FIRE FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S).

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, standing - starting engine(s)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE HAD LANDED ABOUT 30 MIN EARLIER ON A CANAL, TAXIED UP A RAMP ONTO LAND, AND SHUT DOWN. THE PILOT, INSTRUCTOR AND A PASSENGER SUBSEQUENTLY BOARDED THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE ENGINE START, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. FAA PERSONNEL EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE; THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Factual narrative

On July 25, 1995, about 1045 eastern daylight time, N334BL, a Maule MX7-235, registered to a private individual, burned on engine start in Polk City, Florida, while attempting a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed by fire and the pilot, instructor pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time.

The pilot stated that he had landed on the canal, taxied up the ramp on amphibious floats, and shut down about 30 minutes earlier. He picked up an instructor pilot for a proficiency flight and the engine caught fire during the engine start. An examination of the airplane by local FAA personnel was conducted and no cause for the fire could be found.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N334BL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MAULE MX7-235
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4071C
- Airframe hours: 290
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-W1A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ronald D. Bull
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1994, 27 hours before
- Departed: FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 18,074 total, 13 in this make and model, 214 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORL, 23 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 19950725024509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950725024509A), Jul 25, 1995: Maule MX7235, Polk City, FL, Destroyed. Landed amphibious float Maule in canal taxied up ramp. Shutdown. Got CFI. Fire erupted on restart. Cause unknown.

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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