N64819

On May 2, 1996, about 1052 eastern daylight time, a Beech UC-45J, N64819, registered to Aero Caribe Express and operated by Sky Charters, Inc., as a 14 CFR part 91 positioning flight, had a fire in the right main gear wheel well and went off the runway into a canal while returning to Opa Locka Airport, Opa Locka, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the airline transport-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Opa Locka, Florida, a few minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated that during departure, while performing the climb checklist he turned off the electric boost pumps. The right engine began to run rough and he noticed the fuel pressure was zero. He turned the right electric boost pump back on, fuel pressure increased to normal levels, and the engine began to run normally. He elected to return to the departure airport.

While en route back to the airport, he switched the right engine fuel selector from the main tank to the auxiliary tank position. He then turned off the electric boost pump, and fuel pressure again dropped to zero and the engine began to fail. He turned the electric boost pump back on and switched the right fuel selector back to the main tank position. While landing, the air traffic controller informed him that the right engine was on fire. He visually inspected the engine but did not see any flame or smoke. While shutting down the right engine, the cockpit immediately filled with smoke. He was unable to see, and while attempting to open the cockpit hatch the aircraft veered to the left. The aircraft entered a canal where it came to rest.

Postcrash examination of the aircraft showed it had sustained fire damage in the right wheel well aft of the engine firewall. The right main landing gear wheel, which had been retracted for the flight and extended on short final approach, did not have any fire damage. The right engine driven fuel pump operated normally. A pressure check of all fuel lines showed a rubber fuel line had split and was leaking at the engine oil dilution valve on the aft side of the engine fire wall, upper outboard corner. This rubber fuel line connected a pressurized, metal fuel supply line from the carburetor to the inlet of the oil dilution valve. The line was dry and brittle and did not have any fire damage on it. No other fuel line leaks were found.