Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Asheboro, North Carolina 27203
Wednesday, June 2, 1982 19:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CRUISE AT 5000 FT THE PILOT SMELLED ELECTRICAL FUMES AND NOTICED SMOKE FILLING THE FLAP INDICATOR GAUGE. HE PULLED THE WING FLAP CIRCUIT BREAKER BUT MOMENTS LATER VOLUMES OF SMOKE AROSE FROM UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WITH FLAMES OBSERVED BEHIND THE PANEL. THE PILOT DIVERTED TO ASHEBORO AFTER HIS DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER PROVED INEFFECTIVE IN FIGHTING THE FIRE. THE FLAMES DIED OUT AFTER LANDING. FIRE DAMAGE WAS CONTAINED TO THE FLAP INDICATOR BUT HEAT DAMAGE PRECLUDED A DETERMINATION OF THE REASON FOR AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE FLAP INDICATOR HAD BEEN MODIFIED 216 HRS PREVIOUSLY BUT THE MOD DID NOT INVOLVE THE WIRING. THE FLAP INDICATOR IS PROTECTED BY THE STARTER CIRCUIT BREAKER. THIS INFORMATION IS INCLUDED IN THE WIRING DIAGRAMS BUT NOT IN THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FLAP OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 6/2/1982
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1940
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ASHEBORO
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27203
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 6
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1946
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID GSO
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 77
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5048
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N59749
NTSB Number ATL82IA159
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion In-flight
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-325
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-325
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7612017
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 1883
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NATIONAL ESTATES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 526
Aircraft Owner City DUNN
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28334
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CLARENCE ROBERTS/ROBERTS AVIA.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1246
Operator City BUIES CREEK
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27506
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CLT
Departure City CHARLOTTE
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1915
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City ROCKY MOUNT
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --