Short Brothers SC.7 N504FS

Summary

On 11 August 1995 at about 18:30 local time, a Short Brothers SC.7 registered N504FS was involved in an accident near Nikolai, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 August 1995 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Nikolai, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.8697, -153.8693

Aircraft

Short Brothers SC.7

Registration

N504FS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anchorage → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC95LA141

Nobody was injured.

IGNITION OF HAZARDOUS CARGO (AVIATION FUEL) BY AN EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRE, AFTER LEAKING FROM A CONTAINER OF FUEL THAT WAS BEING TRANSPORTED ON THE FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, AND FAILURE OF COMPANY PERSONNEL TO IDENTIFY THE LEAKING FUEL CONTAINER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS DELIVERING A LOAD OF CARGO THAT INCLUDED BARRELS OF 100LL OCTANE AVIATION FUEL TO A REMOTE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT REPORTED FIRE AND SMOKE IN THE CARGO COMPARTMENT. HE BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE DESCENT AND LANDED AT THE DESTINATION AIRSTRIP. AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM ONE OF THE BARRELS. THE FIRE WAS LOCATED BETWEEN THE CARGO AREA FLOORING AND THE BOTTOM BELLY OF THE AIRPLANE. THERE WAS FIRE AND HEAT DAMAGE TO THE CARGO BAY AND MELTING OF THE AIRFRAME ASSEMBLY, INCORPORATING THE REAR SPAR AND SEVERAL AIRFRAME STATIONS. AN AREA OF SOOTING AND A CHARRED SECTION OF ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS FOUND BELOW THE FLOORING, ADJACENT TO THE MOUNTING POSITION OF A LOWER FUSELAGE BEACON THAT HAD BEEN REMOVED SOMETIME IN THE PAST. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER PROTECTING THE ELECTRICAL LOADS FOR THE AIRPLANE'S ROTATING BEACONS WAS FOUND POPPED. APPLICATION OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE ROTATING BEACON CIRCUIT RESULTED IN PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE UPPER FUSELAGE BEACON AND THE PRESENCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE CHARRED WIRING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.