# NTSB NYC82FA134: Piper PA-31, N620WF, Bennington, VT, June 28, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 28, 1982, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Bennington, VT
- Location: 42.8711° N, 73.1802° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bennington, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8711&lon=-73.1802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69927
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82FA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69927/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FA134

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - exhaust system,clamp - failure,total (cause)
  - landing gear,gear warning system - burned (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,gear indicating system - burned (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE ON APPROACH TO LAND, THE PILOT NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT'S GEAR WARNING LIGHTS WERE OUT AND THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS WERE TRIPPED. THE PILOT ADVISED OPERATIONS AND STARTED A FLY-BY WHEN HE NOTICED A FIRE IN THE LEFT ENGINE. THE PILOT FEATHERED THE LEFT ENGINE AND THE FIRE WENT OUT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED SAFELY. THE FIRE HAD DAMAGED THE GEARWARNING SYSTEM. A TURBO OUTLET CLAMP HAD BROKEN IN THE LEFT ENGINE, PIPER P/N 556962.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N620WF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N620WF), registered now, S/N 31-17, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-17
- Airframe hours: 5056
- Engines: LYCOMING TSIO-540A 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Bennington Aviation, Inc
- Registered owner: Bennington Aviation, Inc
- Departed: BUF, BUFFALO, NY
- Destination: MACK, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 5B5, Bennington State, runway 31, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 5,200 total, 1,850 in this make and model, 4,995 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 176 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ALB, 27 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 19820628025449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820628025449A), Jun 28, 1982: Piper PA31, Bennington, VT, Substantial damage. In flight fire in left engine nacelle. Exhaust coupling, P/N556-962 was broken.

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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