Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Vieques
Friday, October 4, 1991 16:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING. AFTER LANDING HE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND GROUND CREWS EXTINGUISHED A FIRE WHICH HAD ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE HAD BURNED THROUGH THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY FAA INSPECTORS INDICATED THE EXHAUST PIPE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER ALLOWING ENGINE EXHAUST TO EXIT ESCAPE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE INSPECTION RESULTING IN THE DEFECTIVE MUFFLER WHICH FAILED AND CAUSED AN INFLIGHT FIRE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/4/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City VIEQUES
Event State PUERTO RICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00765
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1547 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID STX
Elevation of weather observation facility 61
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1800
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) 1548
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45402
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:48AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N563PR
NTSB Number MIA92LA010
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 None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7200027
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 7 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours 5696
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALAS DEL CARIBE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 37406
Aircraft Owner City SAN JUAN
Aircraft Owner State PR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 00937
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALAS DEL CARIBE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 37406
Operator City SAN JUAN
Operator State PR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 00937
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1555
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code STT
Destination City ST. THOMAS
Destination State VI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --