Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Colorado Sprngs, Colorado 80908
Sunday, July 19, 1998 12:48 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While at 13,700 feet msl during climb, the pilot observed flames inside the right cowling. The fire continued to escalate, and the pilot made a forced landing in a field. Upon landing, the right landing gear collapsed. Postaccident examination revealed a disparity in size and condition between the two engine exhaust stacks. The right exhaust stack was stainless steel, with six inches missing from the bottom section, and several sections that were welded and cracked. The left exhaust stack was Inconel, and had no weld patches or cracks. Both engines were remanufactured/zero timed in November of 1997, and were installed on January 8, 1998. Each engine had a 100-hour inspection performed on June 9, 1998. According to the mechanic who performed the majority of the maintenance work, the aircraft was purchased in May of 1996 with Inconel exhaust stacks, and when he performed the 100-hour inspections, he believed that the airplane left his shop with the Inconel stacks on each engine. The pilot stated that he observed no abnormalities in the exhaust stacks during the preflight prior to departure. No information was found during the investigation to indicate when the stainless steel exhaust stack was installed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The separation of a portion of the right engine exhaust stack, and the ensuing fuel fire in the right engine nacelle.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/19/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1248
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City COLORADO SPRNGS
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80908
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
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1254 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID COS
Elevation of weather observation facility 6184
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1102
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 19 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1443
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5833M
NTSB Number FTW98FA319
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T-310P
Aircraft Series Identifier T-310P
Aircraft Serial Number 310P-0133
Certified Max Gross Weight 5400
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 Jun 9 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2752
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TIMOTHY SIMPSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 701 S WILLIS ST.
Aircraft Owner City ABILENE
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79605
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 APA
Departure City ENGLEWOOD
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ABI
Destination City ABILINE
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:55PM
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 --