Piper PA-32RT-300T N184VA

Summary

On 4 July 2024 at about 08:00 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T registered N184VA was involved in an accident near Myerstown, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 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

4 July 2024 at 08:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Myerstown, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Deck Airport (9D4)

Coordinates

40.3521, -76.3296

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300T

Registration

N184VA

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Monticello

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA24LA302

Nobody was injured.

The failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure a B-nut on the No. 5 cylinder fuel injector line, resulting in a fuel leak and engine fire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that preflight and ground operations were normal. During the takeoff roll, he noticed a flashing exhaust gas temperature indication and elected to abort the takeoff. He pulled off onto a turnaround to troubleshoot the problem. A red “X” then appeared over the oil pressure display and one of the passengers noticed flames emanating from the right side of the engine cowling. The pilot shut down the engine, exited the airplane with the passengers, and attempted to extinguish the flames with a fire bottle and blankets. Postaccident examination of the wreckage determined that there was substantial fire and heat damage to the engine and forward fuselage. Further examination of the engine area revealed concentrated damage near cylinder Nos. 3 and 5. The B-nut on the stainless-steel fuel injector line between the No. 5 cylinder and the right fuel injector manifold was loose, and was less than finger-tight. The turbocharger was located aft of this loose B-nut. No other fuel system fittings were found to be loose. An annual inspection was completed on the airframe and engine two days before the accident, including maintenance that required removing and reinstalling the fuel injector lines. It is likely that the No. 5 cylinder B-nut was not securely tightened when reinstalled, allowing it to loosen and spray fuel on the turbocharger and exhaust system, resulting in an engine fire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.