- Date
- October 3, 1990, 07:49 local (14:49 UTC)
- Place
- Elma, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N226NCessna 551
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 15, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 41345
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
Inadequate inspection of the electrical wire bundle assembly by maintenance personnel, and chafing/burning of the wire bundle.
Analysis
During the climb to cruise, the right engine ice fail light illuminated. The pilot reduced power and shut the engine down. The light remained illuminated and the fire extinguishers were deployed. The light went out and the pilot returned to the airport. After landing, an exam revealed the electrical wire bundles (that ran along the top of the right wing near the root) had caught on fire and burned the leading edge anti-ice, fire detection and anti skid wires. In certain areas, the wires had drooped below the line of screws that secured the outer panel and were rubbing on the panel. When this area was last inspected for wire damage, chafing, proper clearance and support, the inspection panel was not removed entirely. The mechanic that performed the inspection had viewed the wire bundle assembly only by looking down at the top of the wires.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N226N
- Reported as
- Cessna 551
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 551-0219
- Airframe hours
- 3,361
- Engine
- P&W JT15D-4, 2,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Nordstrom, James F.
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · September 10, 1990 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- BFI · Seattle, WA
- Destination
- SFO · San Francisco, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 3,200 total · 2,000 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BFI