Sequoia Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Visalia, California 93291
Thursday, July 30, 1992 12:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ON THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL WHEN AN AEROSOL SPRAY CAN, WHICH WAS SITTING ON THE REAR OF THE GLARE SHIELD, SHORTED ACROSS TWO ELECTRICAL TERMINALS. ELECTRICAL ARCING PUNCTURED THE SPRAY CAN AND THE CONTENTS BURST INTO FLAMES. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED DURING THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER STOWAGE OF AN AEROSOL SPRAY CAN IN THE COCKPIT WHICH CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND AN ENSUING FIRE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE SUBSEQUENT ABORTED TAKEOFF.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/30/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City VISALIA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93291
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SEQUOIA FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Q31
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 316
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 Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 36
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2552
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1231
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47384
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:05PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6892K
NTSB Number LAX92LA325
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SCHWEIZER
Aircraft Model G-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164B
Aircraft Serial Number 516B
Certified Max Gross Weight 4500
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 12 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 83
Airframe Hours 6870
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GILBERT AVIATION INDUSTRIES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 35900 ROAD 112
Aircraft Owner City VISALIA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93291
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GILBERT AVIATION INDUSTRIES
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 35900 ROAD 112
Operator City VISALIA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93291
Operator Code MBVG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1229
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --