GRAND JUNCTION, CO, USA
N8739T
CESSNA 182
THE CFI STATED THAT WHILE PRACTICING EMERGENCY LANDINGS, SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING INTO THE COCKPIT. SHE ALSO NOTICED A LOT OF HEAT NEAR HER LEGS. THINKING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A FIRE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIREWALL, THE CFI DECIDED TO LAND IN A CORN FIELD. THE CORN WAS 12 FT TALL & THE ACFT NOSED OVER ON ITS BACK. THE ONLY EVIDENCE OF SMOKE, HEAT OR FIRE WAS THAT THE WIRE LEAD FROM THE ELECTRICAL BUS BAR TO A RADIO WAS BURNED & MELTED AT THE END, AS WAS THE JUMPER WIRE BETWEEN THE BUS BARS. A SHOPOWNER AT THE ARPT STATED THAT THE JUMPER WIRE WAS UNDERSIZED & BECAME OVERLOADED CAUSING THE INSULATION TO BURN. THE CABIN HEATER VALVE WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE ON POSITION WHICH WOULD ALLOW ENGINE HEAT TO ENTER THE COCKPIT NEAR THE FLOOR LEVEL.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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