# NTSB WPR09LA247: Boeing A75N1, N450JN, Joshua Tree, CA, May 19, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2009, 17:15 local (May 19, 2009, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Joshua Tree, CA - Coordinates: 34.153331, -116.25222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1533&lon=-116.2522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administrtion FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73860 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73860/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73860 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA247 ## Probable cause An in-flight fire in the engine compartment for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing A75N1(PT17), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=1380134), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that at the completion of a 1-hour cross-country flight, and while on the downwind leg for landing, he added power and observed flames coming out of the top and right side of the engine's cowling. The pilot initiated a turn towards the runway and landed uneventfully. Fire trucks responded and put out the fire. The pilot, who was an airframe and powerplant mechanic, reported that he had recently installed the engine, a Pratt & Whitney R-985-14B, following a major overhaul. The airplane had flown 3.5 hours since installation of the engine. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed extensive fire damage to the engine and forward part of the airframe, which precluded determination of the reason for the fire. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2009, about 1715 Pacific daylight time, a Boeing A75N1 Stearman, N450JN, experienced an in-flight fire during landing approach at Roy Williams Airport, Joshua Tree, California. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane, which was registered to Stearman Restorations, Inc., Cottage Grove, Oregon, and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight that departed from Chino, California, at 1615, with an intended destination of Joshua Tree. The pilot reported that while on the downwind leg for landing on runway 12, he added power and observed flames coming out of the top and right side of the engine's cowling. The pilot announced on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency that he had a fire and initiated a turn towards the runway. He landed the airplane uneventfully on the runway, and it came to a stop about midfield. The pilot turned off the fuel and electrical systems and exited the airplane after it came to a stop. Fire trucks responded and put out the fire. The pilot, who was an airframe and powerplant mechanic, reported that he had recently installed the engine, a Pratt & Whitney R-985-14B, following a major overhaul. The airplane had flown 3.5 hours since installation of the engine. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed extensive fire damage to the engine and forward part of the airframe, which precluded determination of the reason for the fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N450JN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N450JN), registered now, S/N 75-2992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-2992 - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney R985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, February 8, 2009, 4 hours before - Departed: CNO, Chino, CA - Destination: L80, Joshua Tree, CA - Airport: L80, Roy Williams Airport, runway 12, 3,200 × 100 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 6, 2009; seat: rear; flight hours: 25,000 total, 2,010 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: NXP, 9 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 20090518007119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090518007119A), May 18, 2009: Boeing A75N1, Joshua Tree, CA, Destroyed. (-23) While in cruise flight circling the airport the aircraft experienced an inflight fire. The pilot executed an emergency landing on runway 12, veered to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73860. 611 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 611 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315238&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.