Bismarck Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bismarck, North Dakota 58502
Monday, July 20, 1998 16:42 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A fractured electric fuel pump to carburetor T-connector, Part Number AN917-20, fitting was found during inspection of the engine compartment by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. Metallurgical analysis of the separated fitting by the National Transportation Safety Board's Material Laboratory revealed clamshell shaped crack arrest marks and step-like features to be present. Closer examination of the step-like features revealed a large number of markings similar to river patterns, which converged at numerous locations on the outside diameter (at the root of the thread) of the fitting. No mechanical damage was noted at any of the crack origin locations. The last airplane inspection was a 100-hour inspection performed in March of 1998.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The fatigue failure of the fuel system line fitting.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/20/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1642
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BISMARCK
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58502
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BISMARCK MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BIS
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 1677
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BIS
Elevation of weather observation facility 1677
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 29
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) 912
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 20 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1931
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9142C
NTSB Number CHI98LA266
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion In-flight
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model R182
Aircraft Series Identifier R182
Aircraft Serial Number 00417
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 82
Airframe Hours 2134
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMESTOWN AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 427
Aircraft Owner City JAMESTOWN
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58401
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 CTHA
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BIS
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1512
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 8974
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --