Meadows Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bakersfield, California 93308
Friday, August 17, 2012 14:25 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Following departure, the pilot banked the airplane to align with the right crosswind of the traffic pattern. He observed smoke entering the cockpit, and the engine began to produce only partial power. The pilot chose to return to the airport, but, due to the power loss, the airplane was unable to reach the runway. The pilot landed the airplane in a field outside the airport’s perimeter. The exhaust clamp was found fractured. An area of the fracture appeared flat with granular features, but no clear evidence of preexisting cracks or progressive crack growth was observed. Circumferential cracks were noted in the retainer segments. Although these cracks may have been preexisting, they were not long enough to allow separation of the joint before the band fracture. The exhaust clamp likely fractured due to overstress loading of the joint during the landing. The cause of the in-flight fire could not be determined from the remaining evidence.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power during the initial climb due to an in-flight fire of undetermined origin.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1425
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Bakersfield
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93308
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 352601N
Event Location Longitude 1190327W
Event Location Airport Meadows Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BFL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 300
Airport Elevation 510
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1456 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BFL
Elevation of weather observation facility 510
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.85
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KBFL 182154Z 29007KT 260V330 10SM CLR 35/07
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32721
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 23 2014 10:59PM
User who most recently changed record kelz
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6493N
NTSB Number WPR12LA414
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model T210N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21063067
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 May 1 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 19
Airframe Hours 3950
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EAGLE CAP LEASING INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ENTERPRISE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97828-0400
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name EAGLE CAP LEASING INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ENTERPRISE
Operator State OR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 97828-0400
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BFL
Departure City Bakersfield
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1420
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code REI
Destination City Redlands
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 21 2014 1:50PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --