Cessna T206H N7269T

Summary

On 21 September 2015 at about 12:45 local time, a Cessna T206H registered N7269T, operated by Aero-Graphics Inc., was involved in an incident near Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 September 2015 at 12:45

Classification

Incident

Location

Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Idaho Falls Rgnl (IDA)

Coordinates

43.5136, -112.0708

Aircraft

Cessna T206H

Registration

N7269T

Category

Airplane

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

Aero-Graphics Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Idaho Falls → Idaho Falls

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

WPR15IA263

2 people had minor injuries.

An in-flight fire during initial climb due to the separation of the engine's turbocharger wastegate overboard exhaust tailpipe. Contributing to the accident was the owner's decision to not comply with a service bulletin that addressed the tailpipe separation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During initial climb and about 200 ft above ground level, the passenger observed smoke, which then rapidly filled the cabin. The pilot immediately turned the airplane toward the runway and subsequently performed a forced landing. Examination revealed that the airplane experienced an in-flight fire due to the separation of the engine's turbocharger wastegate overboard exhaust tailpipe from the turbocharger housing. The hot gases from the exhaust system subsequently burned through the battery's electrical cable insulation, which resulted in arcing, a short circuit, and fire. The airplane manufacturer had issued a service bulletin (SB) 16 years before the incident, which recommended installing a tailpipe lanyard to prevent the separation of the tailpipe. About 6 months before the incident, the airplane experienced a similar separation of the tailpipe. The damage was less severe, and it was limited to the battery and its electrical cables. After that event, the tailpipe clamp and gaskets were replaced, but the owner did not comply with the SB. No lanyard was found on the airplane, and no record was found indicating that the owner had complied with the SB at any time. However, the airplane was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91; therefore, compliance with the SB was not mandatory. Although complying with the SB was not mandatory for this airplane's operations, the owner should have complied with the SB to ensure the continued safe operation of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.