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NTSB Report
March 20, 1985 · Fairchild F-27 · N386BA
Champaign, IL
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
March 20, 1985
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (5 uninjured)
Location
Champaign, IL
Aircraft
Fairchild F-27
Tail Number
N386BA
Operator
Britt Airlines
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
CHI85IA143
DURING ENGINE START A FUEL LINE RUNNING BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP AND THE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE SWITCH RUPTURED AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE. THE CREW OBSERVED A FIRE WARNING LIGHT,ABORTED THE START PROCEDURE AND ACTIVATED THE FIRE EXTINGUI SHING SYSTEM WHICH PUT THE FIRE OUT. AN ANALYSIS OF THE BRAIDED LINE REVEALED THAT IT COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING BEEN MANUFACTURED BY THE COMPANY THAT PRODUCES ORIGINAL FUEL LINES FOR THAT ENGINE. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN RECENTLY ACQUIRED FROM A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER AFTER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE OVERSEAS. IT WAS THE OPINION OF THE TECHNICIANSPERFORMING THE ANALYSIS THAT THE DAMAGE THAT WEAKENED THE LINE DID NOT OCCUR WHILE THE LINE WAS INSTALLED ON THE INCIDENT ENGINE, BUT RATHER AT AN EARLIER TIME, POSSIBLY WHEN THE LINE WAS INSTALLED ON ANOTHER DIFFERENT.
Full Narrative
DURING ENGINE START A FUEL LINE RUNNING BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP AND THE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE SWITCH RUPTURED AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE. THE CREW OBSERVED A FIRE WARNING LIGHT,ABORTED THE START PROCEDURE AND ACTIVATED THE FIRE EXTINGUI SHING SYSTEM WHICH PUT THE FIRE OUT. AN ANALYSIS OF THE BRAIDED LINE REVEALED THAT IT COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING BEEN MANUFACTURED BY THE COMPANY THAT PRODUCES ORIGINAL FUEL LINES FOR THAT ENGINE. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN RECENTLY ACQUIRED FROM A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER AFTER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE OVERSEAS. IT WAS THE OPINION OF THE TECHNICIANSPERFORMING THE ANALYSIS THAT THE DAMAGE THAT WEAKENED THE LINE DID NOT OCCUR WHILE THE LINE WAS INSTALLED ON THE INCIDENT ENGINE, BUT RATHER AT AN EARLIER TIME, POSSIBLY WHEN THE LINE WAS INSTALLED ON ANOTHER DIFFERENT.
Flight
Event TypeIncident
Event Time14:40 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftFairchild F-27
Tail NumberN386BA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorBritt Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsRolls-Royce · DART 511 · Turboprop · 1535
Seats48
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (5 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total5
Crew 1Unknown
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 9 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 36 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:45
Weather SourceWFAC