Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX85LA263

MESA, AZ, USA

Aircraft #1

N737YN

CESSNA TR 182

Analysis

DURING INITIAL CLIMB ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT A FIRE ERUPTED BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL & THE ACFT WAS RETURNED FOR LANDING. DURING ROLL OUT 6 INCH LONG FLAMES, SMOKE & NOXIOUS FUMES FILLED THE COCKPIT. WHEN THE ACFT SLOWED TO 10 MPH THE PLTS EXITED THE ACFT & THEREAFTER IT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE 15 AMP RATED WIRE 'DA1,' WHICH ROUTES CURRENT BETWEEN THE AMMETER, THE FLAP SWITCH & THE CIRCUIT BREAKER/BUS TERMINAL CONNECTOR HAD SHORTED & HAD FUSED ONTO THE CARBURETOR HEAD CONTROL LEVER. DURING MANUFACTURE OF THE ACFT THE WIRE IS NOT ROUTED AGAINST THE CARB. HEAT CONTROL LEVER. HOWEVER, DURING MAINTENANCE OF THE NEARBY GEAR SELECTOR LINES WIRE DA1 COULD BE IMPROPERLY REROUTED & THUS PRESSED AGAINST THE CARBURETOR CONTROL LEVER WHICH MAY RESULT IN EVENTUAL WEAR & ELECTRICAL SHORTING.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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