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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 14, 1987 · Cessna 401A · N6249Q

Wichita Falls, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 14, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Wichita Falls, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 401A
Tail Number
N6249Q
Operator
Martinair
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW87LA217

The pilot stated that the right engine quit after landing at the Wichita Falls, Texas airport. A witness stated that he attempted to start the engine several times when the right wing exploded during the last attempted engine restart. Damage was concentrated in the right wing between the engine nacelle and the main fuel tank. There was no fire associated with the explosion. Examination of the wreckage indicated that the explosion originated at the engine area and had emanated from within the wing. The pilot indicated that he had taken off on the main fuel tanks and then switched to the aux tanks during the flight. Before landing, he had switched back to the main tanks. According to the FAA inspector at the scene, the main fuel tanks were found 'overfilled beyond the filler openings.' The pilot operating handbook requires substantial operating time on main tanks prior to switching to aux tanks. The overflow from engines returns to the main tanks only.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE QUIT AFTER LANDING AT THE WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS AIRPORT. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE RIGHT WING EXPLODED DURING THE LAST ATTEMPTED ENGINE RESTART. DAMAGE WAS CONCENTRATED IN THE RIGHT WING BETWEEN THE ENGINE NACELLE AND THE MAIN FUEL TANK. THERE WAS NO FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXPLOSION. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THAT THE EXPLOSION ORIGINATED AT THE ENGINE AREA AND HAD EMANATED FROM WITHIN THE WING. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE HAD TAKEN OFF ON THE MAIN FUEL TANKS AND THEN SWITCHED TO THE AUX TANKS DURING THE FLIGHT. BEFORE LANDING, HE HAD SWITCHED BACK TO THE MAIN TANKS. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR AT THE SCENE, THE MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND 'OVERFILLED BEYOND THE FILLER OPENINGS.' THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK REQUIRES SUBSTANTIAL OPERATING TIME ON MAIN TANKS PRIOR TO SWITCHING TO AUX TANKS. THE OVERFLOW FROM ENGINES RETURNS TO THE MAIN TANKS ONLY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 CDT
Nearest AirportWichita Falls (0nm N)
Runway17
Runway Length7001 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 401A
Tail NumberN6249Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMartinair
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520E · Reciprocating · 300
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind110° @ 6 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time18:55

Appendix: Source Data