# NTSB SEA91IA003: Cessna 551, N226N, Elma, WA, October 3, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 3, 1990, 07:49 local (14:49 UTC)
- Place: Elma, WA
- Coordinates: 47.099689, -123.389137 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0997&lon=-123.3891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41345
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91IA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41345/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91IA003

## Probable cause

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

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

- Fire, climb - to cruise
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - anti-ice/deice system,wing - chafed (cause)
  - anti-ice/deice system,wing - burned (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N226N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 551
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 551-0219
- Airframe hours: 3361
- Engines: P&W JT15D-4 2500 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.

- Pilot; age 50; 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

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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