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April 20, 2001 · Piper PA-31-350 · N4078L

Newark, OH

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
April 20, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Newark, OH
Aircraft
Piper PA-31-350
Tail Number
N4078L
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
NYC01IA126

After landing, while taxing back to the ramp area, the pilot observed a fire in the left engine. He secured the engine and evacuated the airplane. Examination of the engine revealed that the fuel boost pump was leaking. At the time, the pump manufacturer had a service bulletin to inspect, and retorque if necessary, four screws that secured the pump valve assembly. Examination and testing of the pump at the manufacturer's facility revealed that the wrong set of four screws had been torqued. Discussions between the pump manufacturer and airplane operator revealed that there was some ambiguity in the current service bulletin, and the maintenance personnel were confused at to which four screws the bulletin referred to. Subsequently, the pump manufacturer revised the service bulletin.

NTSB Probable Cause

The company maintenance personnel's failure to comply with the service bulletin, which resulted in a fuel boost pump leakage and subsequent fire during taxi. A factor was the manufacturer's confusing service bulletin.

Full Narrative

On April 20, 2001, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N4078L, sustained minor damage while taxing at Newark-Heath Airport (VTA), Newark, Ohio. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from Fort Wayne, Indiana. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the air taxi flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 135. The pilot reported that after landing, while taxing to the ramp area, a fire was observed in the left engine. The pilot secured the engine, and then he and the passenger evacuated the airplane. Witnesses extinguished the fire with a handheld fire extinguisher. Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed a leak in the left engine fuel boost pump. The pump (Lear Romec model RG9080J7A) was sent to the manufacturer for further examination. Testing at the Lear Romec facility revealed that four screws, which secured the pump valve assembly, were not properly torqued. Discussion between representatives at Lear Romec and the airplane operator revealed that there was some confusion among the operator's maintenance personnel about Lear Romec Service Bulletin 101SB020 Rev. 2. According to the service bulletin, the torque of the four screws that secured the pump valve assembly should be verified, and retorqued if necessary, at certain time intervals. However, there was another set of four screws that secured the pump housing cover, in addition to the four screws that secured the valve assembly. The testing at the Lear Romec facility indicated that the wrong set of screws had been torqued. After testing the fuel boost pump and the discussion with the operator, Lear Romec issued Service Bulletin 101SB020 Rev. 3, which clarified the correct screws to torque.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time13:00 EDT
Nearest AirportNewark-Heath Airport (0nm)
Runway09
Runway Length4649 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-31-350
Tail NumberN4078L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-J2BD · Reciprocating · 350 | Lycoming · TIO-540-J2BD · Reciprocating · 350
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 25 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 7 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point46 / 45 C
Altimeter30.12 inHg
Observation Time16:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data