Evansville Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elberfeld, Indiana 47613
Wednesday, February 25, 2004 16:35 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane sustained an in-flight fire during cruise flight on an aerial pipeline observation flight. The pilot performed a forced landing and the on-ground fire destroyed the airplane. The pilot reported that he conducted a through preflight examination of the aircraft. Fuel samples were taken from each tank, and the pilot stated that no fuel, oil, or any other discrepancies were revealed during the inspection. Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes into the flight the pilot reported that he smelled wisps of smoke. The smell of smoke became stronger and forced the pilot to look for the source of the smell. The pilot then felt heat on his left shin and detected smoke emitting from beneath the left side of the instrument panel. The pilot opened his door to release the smoke from the cabin of the aircraft. The pilot noticed a small flame emitting from the electrical wiring bundle. The pilot used his fire extinguisher to douse the flame. The pilot reported that the engine continued to run normally at this time. The pilot initially made a turn for the closest airport that was approximately nine miles from his current position. However, a large, black cloud of smoke then filled the cockpit. The pilot decided to land the airplane as soon as possible. The pilot stated that he placed his head outside the window of pilot's side door in order to navigate and breathe. The pilot reported that while doing this, he saw a flame emitting from the right side of the engine cowl. The pilot landed the airplane, gear up, in a field. The pilot evacuated the airplane before the fire engulfed three-fourths of the fuselage. An on-scene examination was performed. Flight control continuity was established from the surfaces to cabin area. Testing was unable to be performed due to the extent of fire damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The in-flight and on-ground fires in the cabin and engine compartment for undetermined reasons during the flight's cruise and emergency landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/25/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1635
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Elberfeld
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47613
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 380733N
Event Location Longitude 0872458W
Event Location Airport EVANSVILLE REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EVV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 9.3
Degrees magnetic from airport 42
Airport Elevation 418
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1654 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 223
Weather Observation Facility ID EVV
Elevation of weather observation facility 418
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report Evansville Regional Airport Evansville, Indiana,
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) 16046
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 25 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1645
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 1 2004 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Indianapolis, IN, FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5450T
NTSB Number CHI04LA078
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground and In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model R182
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number R18201869
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 19 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1075.1
Airframe Hours 12523.9
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BP PIPELINES (NORTH AMERICA) INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4502 E 41ST ST # MC3A01
Aircraft Owner City Tulsa
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 74129
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code IKK
Departure City KANKAKEE
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1425
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MRC
Destination City Mt. Pleasant
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jun 24 2004 5:39PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --