Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Perry, Iowa 50220
Thursday, April 10, 1986 14:05 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PIC NOTICED A LOSS OF ENGINE PWR AND FLAMES ERUPTING FROM THE ENGINE COWLING. THE PIC EXECUTED A TURN BACK TO THE ARPT AS THICK BLACK SMOKE FILLED THE COCKPIT. THE PIC OPENED THE SIDE VENT WINDOW TO MAINTAIN SIGHT OF THE GROUND AND LANDED THE ACFT IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE PIC EXITED THE ACFT AND USED AND HAND HELD EXTINGUISHER TO COMBAT THE FLAMES BELCHING FM THE ENGINE COWLING. THE ENSUING FIRE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE ACFT. INSPECTION OF THE FIRE AREA REVEALED AN EXHAUST V-CLAMP LOOSE AND A DISTORTED GASKET AT THE EXHAUST JOINTS. THIS ALLOWED BLOW-BY OF THE HOT EXHAUST GASES WHICH MELTED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP CONNECTION SPEWING RAW FUEL INTO THE HOT ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD BEEN REMOVED TO REWORK A CYLINDER AND RE-INSTALLED 6 HOURS PRIOR TO THIS FLT. THE GASKET WAS DISTORTED DURING THE RE-ASSEMBLY OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/10/1986
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1405
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City PERRY
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50220
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 4
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 1351 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID DSM
Elevation of weather observation facility 957
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 12
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 251
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 10 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30466
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8178N
NTSB Number MKC86LA084
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-32R-301T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-301
Aircraft Serial Number 8029072
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 2407
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JERRY WOODKE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 203 SO. PERTH
Aircraft Owner City SCHALLER
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 51053
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HAWKEYE EAGLE TRAILERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 303 EAST 1ST STREET
Operator City SCHALLER
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 51053
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 PRO
Departure City PERRY
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SLB
Destination City SCHALLER
Destination State IA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --