Kerrville/Schreiner Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kerrville, Texas 78208
Wednesday, November 6, 2002 13:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During cruise flight at 6,500 feet msl, the pilot heard a "muffled bang on the right engine." The pilot performed the emergency procedures, shut down the right engine, feathered the propeller, and landed the airplane without further incident. The outboard portion of the right flap, the right gear door, and the right wing locker were destroyed by the in-flight fire. There was thermal deformation of the aft right wing spar. During an examination of the airplane, oil was found from the right engine propeller aft to the right vertical stabilizer. The oil filter was replaced and 8 quarts of oil were added to the engine for an test run. During the 10-minute test run, oil was observed leaking from the forward area of the engine. Following the test run, examination revealed the oil was leaking from the propeller shaft seal.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The propeller shaft seal leak resulting in an in-flight fire.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/6/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Kerrville
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78208
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 295836N
Event Location Longitude 0990508W
Event Location Airport Kerrville/Schreiner
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ERV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1617
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 325
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13482
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Nov 15 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2003 9:51AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Antonio, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N698VW
NTSB Number FTW03LA046
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7405408
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 25 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David R. Wilson
Aircraft Owner Street Address 317 S. Sidney Baker Street
Aircraft Owner City Kerrville
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78028
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 ERV
Departure City Kerrville
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code ERV
Destination City Kerrville
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2003 5:42PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --