Detroit-Willow Run Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Belleville, Michigan 48111
Monday, June 13, 1994 17:43 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOTS STATED THEY NOTICED THE LEFT ENGINE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE INDICATED BELOW NORMAL WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING. THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS ACTIVATED AND FUEL PRESSURE INCREASED TO THE NORMAL RANGE. THE PILOTS REPORTED AFTER LANDING THE LEFT ENGINE COMPRESSOR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT ENGINE #3 FUEL LINE FAILED. PHOTOS REVEALED THE BENDS IN THE #3 FUEL LINE HAD BEEN MODIFIED FOR THE UNIQUE INSTALLATION ON THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. THE FUEL LINE WAS DISCARDED BEFORE FURTHER EXAMINATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the failure of the fuel line on the unique STC'd engine installation. A related factor is the improper installation of a fuel line by company maintenance personnel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/13/1994
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1743
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BELLEVILLE
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48111
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DETROIT-WILLOW RUN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID YIP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 716
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1006
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 13 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:27AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N231LJ
NTSB Number CHI94LA198
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model 18
Aircraft Series Identifier 18
Aircraft Serial Number 23835
Certified Max Gross Weight 11230
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection May 22 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 94
Airframe Hours 24892
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KALITTA FLYING SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 843 WILLOW RUN ROAD
Aircraft Owner City YPSILANTI
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48197
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KALITTA FLYING SERVICE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 843 WILLOW RUN ROAD
Operator City YPSILANTI
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48197
Operator Code KKFA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SUS
Departure City ST. LOUIS
Departure State MO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27L
Runway Length 6511
Runway Width 160
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --