Piper PA-28-181 N8129M

Summary

On 18 November 2022 at about 12:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N8129M, operated by Aviation Consulting Expertise LLC, was involved in an accident near Manassas, Virginia, United States. 2 people were 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

18 November 2022 at 12:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Manassas, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Manassas Rgnl/Harry P Davis Fl (HEF)

Coordinates

38.7210, -77.5151

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N8129M

Category

Airplane

Year built

1982

Engines

1

Operator

Aviation Consulting Expertise LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA23LA065

Nobody was injured.

An engine fire caused by chafing and subsequent electrical arcing of the alternator wire near a fuel source.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

In preparation for the instructional flight, the flight instructor primed the engine with fuel several times and attempted to start it; each time the engine would get close to starting but would not run. On the fourth start attempt, he did not prime the engine and white smoke started to emanate from the engine compartment. The flight instructor then shut off the fuel valve and electrical equipment and then exited the airplane to investigate. He discharged a fire extinguisher into the air intake without effect. The smoke increased in intensity before a fire broke out and within minutes engulfed the engine compartment and cockpit area before eventually being extinguished by airport fire rescue. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed electrical arcing damage to an alternator wire and surrounding structure. Pitting consistent with electrical arcing was discovered on the engine mounts and the alternator wire displayed features consistent with electrical arcing damage that was located near a fuel line. The clamp that affixed the wire was severely damaged and melted. Based on this information, the wire likely chafed over time until metal-to-metal contact was made as the wire was energized, which resulted in a fire that was fed by fuel from a nearby fuel line.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.