Lafayette Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lafayette, Louisiana 70501
Monday, August 11, 1997 19:08 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A passenger observed signs of fire coming from the number one (left) engine while the airplane was taxiing to the parking ramp. The flight attendant notified the flight crew and the captain secured both engines, stopped the airplane and ordered a ground evacuation on the taxiway. The passengers and crew deplaned through the normal exits without further incident. Examination of the left engine revealed that the fire was confined to the AC generator located on the top right side of the engine. Detailed examination of the AC generator revealed that the bearing had failed. The cause of the bearing failure could not be determined due to the extensive damage sustained by the bearing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the AC generator due to the failure of the anti-drive end bearing.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 8/11/1997
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1908
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City LAFAYETTE
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70501
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LAFAYETTE REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LFT
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 42
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1851 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LFT
Elevation of weather observation facility 42
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 25
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 35
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5026
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 11 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1953
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N313AE
NTSB Number FTW97IA305
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Saab-Scania AB (Saab)
Aircraft Model 340B
Aircraft Series Identifier 340B
Aircraft Serial Number 313AE
Certified Max Gross Weight 29000
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 37
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jun 6 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 10364
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WINGS WEST AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 835 AIRPORT DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City SAN LUIS OBISPO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code WWMA
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DFW
Departure City DFW AIRPORT
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1719
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LFT
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 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --