Rotonda Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Placida, Florida 33946
Monday, November 16, 1987 14:52 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENG THE PLT HEARD IT BACKFIRE & THEN OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE ENG COWLING. HE THEN IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE ACFT & LEFT THE SCENE TO SUMMON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE LATER RETURNED TO FIND THE AIRCRAFT CONSUMED BY FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND NO FIRE GUARD WAS POSTED OUTSIDE THE ACFT DURING THE ENG START. IT IS CONSIDERED GOOD GENERAL PRACTICE TO CONTINUE MOTORING THE ENG AFTER A BACKFIRE TO BLOW EXISTING FIRE OUT OF THE ENG AREA THROUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/16/1987
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1452
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City PLACIDA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33946
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ROTONDA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID X54
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 42
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 127
Weather Observation Facility ID FMY
Elevation of weather observation facility 18
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1183
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) 2126
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 16 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1558
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35716
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 3:00PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N44JM
NTSB Number MIA88LA037
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MANDLEY
Aircraft Model STEEN SKYBOLT
Aircraft Series Identifier STEEN SKYB
Aircraft Serial Number 1
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 37
Airframe Hours 865
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEDWARD, RICHARD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8620 N NEW BRAUNFELS SUITE 508
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LEDWARD, RICHARD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 450A FT DENAUD RD
Operator City LABELLE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33935
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1452
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code X14
Destination City LABELLE
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
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 --