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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 16, 1990 · Lockheed PV-2 · N7428C

Conroe, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 16, 1990
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Conroe, TX
Aircraft
Lockheed PV-2
Tail Number
N7428C
Operator
Confederate Air Force
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW90DRA10

During taxi to takeoff the crew sensed an odor similar to an electrical fire, and smoke became apparent in the cockpit. Both generators and the battery master were secured. The right generator would not accept a load and smoke was coming from the right wing accessory J-box in the right wheel well. Three occupants deplaned and initially extinguished the fire, which reignited due to hot metal and compromised fuel/oil lines. All systems were secured and the pilot then evacuated the airplane, which was consumed by the fire. The pilot estimated that fire fighting equipment did not arrive for 20-25 minutes after the fire began. FAA inspectors were unable to determine the fire source from the burned wreckage. However, the operator's report stated that the right starter solenoid did not open after engine start causing the starter to remain linked to the electrical system. This resulted in a system overload and subsequent electrical fire. Both fuel and oil lines were routed through the right wheel well for cockpit indications.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE ENGINE STARTER REMAINED ENGAGED AFTER ENGINE START AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OVERHEAT.

Full Narrative

DURING TAXI TO TAKEOFF THE CREW SENSED AN ODOR SIMILAR TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AND SMOKE BECAME APPARENT IN THE COCKPIT. BOTH GENERATORS AND THE BATTERY MASTER WERE SECURED. THE RIGHT GENERATOR WOULD NOT ACCEPT A LOAD AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT WING ACCESSORY J-BOX IN THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL. THREE OCCUPANTS DEPLANED AND INITIALLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, WHICH REIGNITED DUE TO HOT METAL AND COMPROMISED FUEL/OIL LINES. ALL SYSTEMS WERE SECURED AND THE PILOT THEN EVACUATED THE AIRPLANE, WHICH WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT DID NOT ARRIVE FOR 20-25 MINUTES AFTER THE FIRE BEGAN. FAA INSPECTORS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FIRE SOURCE FROM THE BURNED WRECKAGE. HOWEVER, THE OPERATOR'S REPORT STATED THAT THE RIGHT STARTER SOLENOID DID NOT OPEN AFTER ENGINE START CAUSING THE STARTER TO REMAIN LINKED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS RESULTED IN A SYSTEM OVERLOAD AND SUBSEQUENT ELECTRICAL FIRE. BOTH FUEL AND OIL LINES WERE ROUTED THROUGH THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL FOR COCKPIT INDICATIONS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:26 CDT
Nearest AirportMontgomery County (0nm N)
Runway19
Runway Length4600 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLockheed PV-2
Tail NumberN7428C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorConfederate Air Force
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R2800-31 · Reciprocating · 2000
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 42 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNr
Wind170° @ 10 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time13:50

Appendix: Source Data