# NTSB NYC02LA038: Aero Vodochody Aero. Works L-39C, N90688, Wilmington, DE, October 30, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 30, 2001, 16:35 local (20:35 UTC) - Place: Wilmington, DE - Coordinates: 39.729824, -75.539596 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7298&lon=-75.5396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 18, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53910 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53910/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA038 ## Probable cause A ruptured oil line, which resulted in oil spraying onto the APU exhaust and a subsequent fire. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, taxi - lubricating system,oil line - ruptured (cause) - fluid,oil - leak ## Analysis While taxiing, the pilot noticed smoke emanating from the right side of the airplane. He shut down the engine, activated the emergency fire suppression system, and exited the airplane. Examination of the airplane after the fire revealed that an oil line from the APU had ruptured, and sprayed oil on the APU's exhaust pipe. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 2001, at 1635 eastern standard time, an Aero Vodochody L-39C, N90688, was substantially damaged when it caught fire while taxiing at New Castle County Airport (ILG), Wilmington, Delaware. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A visual flight rules flight plan was on file for the flight, to Canandaigua Airport (D38), Canandaigua, New York. The personal flight was to be conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he flew to Wilmington earlier in the day to have the airplane's brakes checked. After the inspection, he prepared for departure, and had the airplane turned into the wind. The start sequence was normal, and afterwards, he began to taxi the airplane to the active runway. According to the pilot: "As I was taxiing, I received a light indicating electrical failure and RAT displayed. I also noticed smoke coming from the right side of the aircraft. The control tower then radioed and asked if the plane was all right because they saw smoke as well. As I answered, total electrical failure occurred. At this point, I hit fuel cutoff, shut down the engine, and engaged the emergency fire suppression system and exited the aircraft." According to the maintenance technician who inspected the airplane after the fire, an oil line from the auxiliary power unit (APU) had ruptured, and sprayed oil onto the APU's exhaust pipe. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90688](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90688-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N 430424, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Vodochody Aero. Works L-39C - Registry model: [Aero Vodochody L39C](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-vodochody-l39c) (registry code 05620RN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Ivchenko AL-25SERIES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ivchenko-al-25series) (registry code 34702, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 430424 - Airframe hours: 2675.2 - Engines: Ivchenko AI-25 3800 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: DeWight Cartwright - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, April 25, 2001, 52.7 hours before - Departed: ILG, DE - Destination: D38, Canadaigua, NY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ILG, New Castle County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 23, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 2,079 total, 60 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.45 inHg - Observed at: ILG ## 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 20011030036829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011030036829A), Oct 30, 2001: Aerovd L39C, Wilmington, DE, No damage. (-23) The following is a brief description of the events of this accident: from eastern region operations center cruz/roo as reported by ilgt/olsen "at 1635E,… 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.