Michigan City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Michigan City, Indiana 46360
Tuesady, May 23, 1995 14:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER SHUT DOWN ON THE RAMP, HE NOTICED SIGNS OF AN ENGINE FIRE IN THE RIGHT ENGINE COWLING. A FIRE TRUCK WAS SUMMONED AND THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED. A WITNESS REPORTED FIRE COMING FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE AS IT BACK TAXIED TO THE TERMINAL. HE SAW TWO PEOPLE JUMP OUT OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER IT STOPPED, AND PEOPLE USING PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS UNTIL THE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE INTENSE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE FIRE BURNED THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR DOORS, BOTTOM ENGINE COWLING, AND THE TOP ENGINE COWLING TO ABOUT 10 INCHES BEHIND THE FIRE WALL. IT APPEARED THAT THE FIRE STARTED ABOVE THE TURBO CHARGER UNIT. FIRE OCCURRED IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE FIREWALL. EXTENSIVE HEAT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FIREWALL AND THE ENGINE ACCESSORIES. THE HYDRAULIC AND FUEL HOSES ABOVE THE TURBO CHARGER WERE DESTROYED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

reason for the occurrence was undetermined.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/23/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1440
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MICHIGAN CITY
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46360
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MICHIGAN CITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MGC
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 650
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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 Thin Broken
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 656
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 21 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:15PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6092Y
NTSB Number CHI95LA234
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-250
Aircraft Serial Number 27-3298
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 3 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3289
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name R.G.B. AIRCRAFT INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 101 N. POPLAR ST.
Aircraft Owner City SEYMOUR
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47274
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SER
Departure City SEYMOUR
Departure State IN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 4100
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --