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May 16, 1982 · Piper PA-22 · N3723Z

Joilet, IL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 16, 1982
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries)
Location
Joilet, IL
Aircraft
Piper PA-22
Tail Number
N3723Z
Operator
Steve S Matter
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI82FA168

When the aircraft was about 1 1/2 miles from the destination, a fire started on the left side of the floorboard against the firewall. The pilot turned off the electrical system, and before landing, shut off the fuel selector. After landing, the occupants egressed and the plane continued to burn until fire department personnel arrived and applied dry chemicals. During an investigation, a fuel line was found with areas of thinning. This line was routed from the firewall to the fuel shutoff valve on the left side of the cabin. This area had been exposed to high heat during the fire. A possible source of ignition was a power supply for the radio, which was attached to the firewall under the instrument panel just above the fuel line. An internal examination of the power supply unit showed an area of intensive heat around the relay assembly. According to an engineering report, the wall thinning of the fuel line (made from aluminum alloy 3003) was a result of loss of material at the inner surface.

Full Narrative

WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION, A FIRE STARTED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FLOORBOARD AGAINST THE FIREWALL. THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND BEFORE LANDING, SHUT OFF THE FUEL SELECTOR. AFTER LANDING, THE OCCUPANTS EGRESSED AND THE PLANE CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL ARRIVED AND APPLIED DRY CHEMICALS. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, A FUEL LINE WAS FOUND WITH AREAS OF THINNING. THIS LINE WAS ROUTED FROM THE FIRE WALL TO THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE ON THE LEFT SIDE O THE CABIN. THIS AREA HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO HIGH HEAT DURING THE FIRE. A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF IGNITION WAS A POWER SUPPLY FOR THE RADIO, WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE FIRE WALL UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL JUST ABOVE THE FUEL LINE. AN INTERNAL EXAMINATION OF THE POWER SUPPLY UNIT SHOWED AN AREA OF INTENSIVE HEAT AROUND THE RELAY ASSEMBLY. ACCORDING TO AN ENGINEERING REPORT, THE WALL THINNING OF THE FUEL LINE (MADE FROM ALUMINUM ALLOY 3003) WAS A RESULT OF LOSS OF MATERIAL AT THE INNER SURFACE

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 CDT
Nearest AirportJOILET (0nm N)
Runway22
Runway Length3452 ft
Runway Width125 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireBoth
Aircraft ExplosionBoth

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-22
Tail NumberN3723Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSteve S Matter
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B2B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 26 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data