N255ER

Substantial
None

Piper PA-44-180S/N: 44-8195004

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, May 24, 2007
NTSB Number
DFW07CA121
Location
Lubbock, TX
Event ID
20070613X00719
Coordinates
33.650833, -101.828887
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The failure of the engine fuel supply line and the separation of the number one cylinder exhaust pipe resulting in an engine fire.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N255ER
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
44-8195004
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1980
Model / ICAO
PA-44-180PA44
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Multi Engine
No. of Engines
2

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
REGISTRATION PENDING
Address
21593 SKYWEST DR
Status
Deregistered
City
HAYWARD
State / Zip Code
CA 94541-7015
Country
United States

Analysis

The 1,730-hour flight instructor and a student pilot performed a normal engine run-up in a twin-engine airplane prior to a local training flight. The run-up did not reveal any anomalies and the airplane was clear to taxi to runway 35L. The right engine lost power while the airplane was holding short to take the active runway. The student pilot attempted to restart the right engine when he noticed "flames coming from the bottom of the engine cowling." The flight instructor and the student pilot exited the airplane through the cabin door without injuries. Airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) personnel responded to the aircraft fire and extinguished the fire. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the scene, reported that the right engine nacelle sustained structural damage as result of the engine fire. Additionally, the inspector found the exhaust stack for the number one cylinder had separated. The inspector also reported that the braided fuel line leaked when the line was pressure tested.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DFW07CA121