Service difficulty report · Booster · Beech B200

Difficulty date
March 7, 2005
Submitted
April 1, 2005
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Beech B200
Aircraft time
13,276 hours
Engine
Pwa PT6A42
Propeller
Hartzl HCB3TN3
Part
Booster
Part number
OB30
Part serial
030507OB
Condition
Failed
Location
Oxygen Sys
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

(CAN) SHOP TOOL FOR FILLING O2 SYSTEMS. THE OXYGEN BOOSTER DESCRIBED ABOVE WAS BEING USED TO FILL MEDICAL OXYGEN IN TO THE AIRCRAFT LIFEPORT MEDICAL SLED ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT, WHEN THE UNIT EXPLODED WITH NO WARNING SENDING A TORCHING FLAME WITH HOT SHRAPNEL APPROXIMATELY 45 FEET ACROSS THE HANGER, HITTING A WALL AND STARTING A SMALL FIRE. LUCKILY THE OPERATOR ESCAPED WITH MINOR BURNS, DUE TO HIS CLOSE PROXIMITY, AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE HANGAR AREA. QUICK THINKING ON THE PILOTS PART HELPED TO LIMIT THE DAMAGE, BUT IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN AGAIN, IT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF LIFE AND OR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING AND AIRCRAFT.

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