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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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August 28, 1983 · Swearingen SA226TC · N503SS

Hot Springs, AR

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 28, 1983
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Hot Springs, AR
Aircraft
Swearingen SA226TC
Tail Number
N503SS
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DCA83AA037

TURNING ONTO THE RWY THE COPLT OBSERVED A FLASH BEHIND HIS INST PANEL. HE THEN RECEIVED AN ELECT SHOCK TO HIS RIGHT ARM FROM THE RIGHT CONSOLE. A FIRE THEN ERUPTED AT THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF HIS INST PANEL. THE CREW & PAX EVACUATED THE ACFT. THE INTERIOR OF THE ACFT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE AS WELL AS MOST OF THE UPPER HALF OF THE FUSELAGE. EXAM OF THE RIGHT SIDE WIRE BUNDLE REVEALED NUMEROUS INDICATIONS OF ARCING BETWEEN WIRES & FROM WIRES TO GROUND. ONE WIRE WAS ARCED AT A POINT IN LINE WITH A PLASTIC OXYGEN LINE. THERE WAS ALSO AN OILY RESIDUE INSIDE THE WIRE BUNDLE. A SMALL SECTION OFTHE RIGHT BRAKE PRESSURE LINE EXHIBITED SIGNS OF ELECT ARCING. THE HYDRAULIC SYST PRESS GAGE COPPER LINE ALSO SHOWED SIGNS OF ARCING. THE PLASTIC OXYGEN LINES FROM THE THE COCKPIT SIDE OF THE FORWARD PRESSURE BULKHEAD TO THE COCKPIT OUTLETS HAD BEEN CONSUMED BY FIRE & THE OXYGEN SUPPLY WAS DEPLEATED.

Full Narrative

TURNING ONTO THE RWY THE COPLT OBSERVED A FLASH BEHIND HIS INST PANEL. HE THEN RECEIVED AN ELECT SHOCK TO HIS RIGHT ARM FROM THE RIGHT CONSOLE. A FIRE THEN ERUPTED AT THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF HIS INST PANEL. THE CREW & PAX EVACUATED THE ACFT. THE INTERIOR OF THE ACFT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE AS WELL AS MOST OF THE UPPER HALF OF THE FUSELAGE. EXAM OF THE RIGHT SIDE WIRE BUNDLE REVEALED NUMEROUS INDICATIONS OF ARCING BETWEEN WIRES & FROM WIRES TO GROUND. ONE WIRE WAS ARCED AT A POINT IN LINE WITH A PLASTIC OXYGEN LINE. THERE WAS ALSO AN OILY RESIDUE INSIDE THE WIRE BUNDLE. A SMALL SECTION OFTHE RIGHT BRAKE PRESSURE LINE EXHIBITED SIGNS OF ELECT ARCING. THE HYDRAULIC SYST PRESS GAGE COPPER LINE ALSO SHOWED SIGNS OF ARCING. THE PLASTIC OXYGEN LINES FROM THE THE COCKPIT SIDE OF THE FORWARD PRESSURE BULKHEAD TO THE COCKPIT OUTLETS HAD BEEN CONSUMED BY FIRE & THE OXYGEN SUPPLY WAS DEPLEATED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:03 CDT
Nearest AirportMemorial Field (0nm N)
Runway5
Runway Length6595 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSwearingen SA226TC
Tail NumberN503SS
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsAiresearch · TPE-331 · Turboprop · 840
Seats19

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 33 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
WindCalm
Visibility8 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:00

Appendix: Source Data