# NTSB SEA08CA004: Piper PA 28-151, N8549F, Salt Lake City, UT, October 3, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 3, 2007, 10:57 local (16:57 UTC) - Place: Salt Lake City, UT - Coordinates: 40.619445, -111.992774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6194&lon=-111.9928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66812/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA004 ## Probable cause The leak at the fuel line fitting, which resulted in a fire during engine start. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, standing - starting engine(s) - fuel system,line fitting - leak (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was consumed by fire following a re-start of the engine. The pilot stated that he had taxied to the run up area and shutdown the engine to retrieve items from the baggage compartment. He restarted the engine and shortly thereafter, felt heat and saw flames coming from the lower portion of the engine cowling. Post accident testing by the Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator showed that the fuel line fitting from the gascolator to the fuel pump leaked. The source of ignition for the fire could not be determined. Based on a review of the logbooks, the Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator stated that no recent maintenance had been performed on the fitting. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he intended to go on a local area personal flight. He performed the preflight inspection in the hangar. He pulled the airplane out of the hangar, started the engine, and taxied to the runup area for runway 16. When he reached the runup area, he shut the engine down and retrieved two headsets from the airplane's baggage compartment. He returned to the cockpit and started the engine. He did not prime the engine because it had recently been running. The engine restarted with no apparent problems. As he turned to retrieve the pretakeoff checklist he felt heat on his face. He looked but did not see the source; however, the heat increased. As he looked out of the door he saw flames emanating from under the front of the engine cowling. Then, he pulled the mixture control to the lean position to shut down the engine and evacuate the airplane. The Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator examined the airplane. Fire damage was evident in the aft engine area, and the cockpit area was consumed. Examination of the gascolator showed that the fuel line fitting at the gascolator that connected the line to the fuel pump leaked. Based on a review of the logbooks, the accident coordinator stated that no recent maintenance had been performed on the fitting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8549F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8549F-2008-09-23), registration cancelled 2008-09-23, S/N 28-7715280, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7715280 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jack Butterfield - Registered owner: Chailei Sales and Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: U42, Salt Lake City, UT - Airport: U42, SLC Muni 2 Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 3,548 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 24 knots, gusting 31 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 10 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 20071003020519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071003020519A), Oct 3, 2007: Piper PA28151, Salt Lake City, UT, Destroyed. (-23) With intention to fly, taxied to runup area. Shut down engine and exited aircraft to retrieve headsets from cargo area. Returned to aircraft and from… 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.