# NTSB WPR19TA186: Glasair SH II, N279G, San Bernardino, CA, July 1, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: June 30, 2019, 17:15 local (Jul 1, 2019, 00:15 UTC) - Place: San Bernardino, CA - Coordinates: 34.095275, -117.235 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0953&lon=-117.2350&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-into takeoff position: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99847 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19TA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99847/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99847 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA186 ## Probable cause A fuel leak caused by age-degraded fuel hoses, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and fire before takeoff. Contributing to the accident was inadequate maintenance. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Misc hardware: hoses and tubes](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Wickliffe C D/Sanderlin DC SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410/cases.md?model=056559L), [All aircraft, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Wickliffe C D/Sanderlin DC SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md?model=056559L), [All aircraft, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel; cases with it: [Wickliffe C D/Sanderlin DC SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=056559L), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-into takeoff position: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Wickliffe C D/Sanderlin DC SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=056559L), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Taxi-into takeoff position: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Wickliffe C D/Sanderlin DC SHA GLASAIR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=056559L), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis After the pilot advanced the throttle for takeoff, the engine lost all power and a fire erupted in the engine compartment of the experimental amateur-built airplane, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. Construction of the airplane was completed almost 31 years before the accident, and the airplane sat idle for the 15 years leading up to its last inspection, about 8 months (33 flight hours) before the accident. The fire appeared to originate in the area of the gascolator and engine-driven fuel pump, an area that would have experienced relative movement between the engine and airframe while in operation. The airplane was equipped with rubber fuel hoses, none of which appeared to have been replaced since the airplane was built. It is likely that the hoses, due to their excessive age, degraded and became brittle over time, resulting in a fuel leak and eventual fire. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2019, about 1715 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built SH II Glasair airplane, N279G, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at San Bernardino International Airport (SBD), San Bernardino, California. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot stated that he had landed at SBD and spent about 20 minutes taxiing and observing the west ramp area of the airport. He then proceeded to runway 24 and, after performing an uneventful run-up, taxied to the hold-short line behind a waiting Cessna airplane. After the Cessna had departed, the pilot was granted a clearance to line up and wait. After receiving clearance to take off, he pushed the throttle forward, and the engine lost all power. Smoke then began to waft out of the oil filler door on the cowling, and both the pilot and the passenger immediately exited the airplane. The smoke became more intense, and eventually flames erupted from the engine compartment. According to the pilot, the fire was extinguished by the airport fire department upon their arrival about 10 minutes later. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine was largely free of thermal damage forward of the aft section of the engine cooling baffles. The carburetor was similarly undamaged along with the alternator and propeller. Most of the thermal damage was in the section between the baffle and the firewall and was particularly extensive in the lower left area surrounding the engine-driven fuel pump and the firewall-mounted gascolator. The top of the gascolator was consumed by fire, along with the hose fittings connecting the gascolator to the carburetor and fuel tank. Similarly, the fittings connecting the fuel pump to the fuel pressure gauge and carburetor had been consumed. The fuel pump remained attached to the accessory case of the engine but had sustained thermal damage, exposing its pumping chamber. According to maintenance logbooks, construction of the airplane was completed in August 1988, and the airplane then accrued 296.1 hours of flight time through March 1994. The logbooks indicated an annual inspection was then completed on October 13, 2018, during which time no components, except for the emergency locator transmitter battery, were replaced. The pilot then flew the airplane for 33 hours up until the accident. There were no entries in any of the logbooks indicating that either the engine-driven fuel pump or any of the fuel hoses had been replaced. The fuel lines forward of the firewall appeared to be constructed of steel-braided rubber hose covered with fire sleeve. Their manufacturer could not be determined. "Service Life Limits:... Rubber Hose in Engine Compartment or in Fire Zone: FAA document AC20-7A states that Rubber Hose used on aircraft in the engine compartment or fire zone should not be used after 5 years following the in servicedate...". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N279G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N279G-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 279, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GLASAIR SH II - Registry model: [Wickliffe C D/Sanderlin DC SHA GLASAIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/wickliffe-c-d-sanderlin-dc-sha-glasair) (registry code 056559L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 279 - Year built: 1988 - Airframe hours: 587.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 18, 2018, 33 hours before - Departed: SBD, San Bernardino, CA - Destination: EMT, El Monte, CA - Airport: SBD, San Bernardino Intl, runway 24, 10,000 × 200 ft, concrete - Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Data recorder, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 5, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,250 total, 33 in this make and model, 5,250 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 226° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 28.70 inHg - Observed at: KSBD ## 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 20190630008749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190630008749A), Jun 30, 2019: Wickliffe C D/Sanderlin Dc SHA GLASAIR, San Bernardino, CA, Destroyed. Glasair N279G serial number 279 piloted by [privacy data omitted] landed at San Bernardino Airport ksbd conducted a run up and taxied for take off. N279G was… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99847. 7.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15075805&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20(2)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance logbook excerpts (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 328 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8363052&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maint%20excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Safety guide for selecting and using parker aerospace hose, fittings and related accessories (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8359115&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SPD%20Safety%20Guide%202010-01%5B1%5D-Rel.pdf - Photographs - NTSB provided (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 479 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8358390&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.