Piper PA-28-161 N8236Z

Summary

On 11 November 1998 at about 19:40 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N8236Z, operated by John H. Malkin, was involved in an accident near Erie, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 November 1998 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Erie, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Tri-County Airport (48V)

Coordinates

39.8898, -105.1095

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N8236Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

John H. Malkin

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Loveland → Broomfield

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN99LA020

Nobody was injured.

The shorting of the aluminum battery wire and the subsequent failure of the fuel line. Factors were the weak/deteriorated battery, the insufficient information in the airplane's POH about charging an airplane's battery, and the fire in the crew compartment.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he could not start the engine, and he requested assistance. A battery cart was brought out, and the engine was jump started. While airborne, the pilot smelled something like ether, and decided to land the airplane. He said that the smell got stronger and the engine began to run rough. While taxing off the runway, he smelled raw fuel and saw smoke. After he evacuated the airplane, he saw flames coming from the pilot's side of the engine (aft of the firewall) and the wing root area. A piper representative stated that 'a dead or depleted aircraft battery should not be charged in the aircraft.' This information was not available in the POH. The Service Bulletin #836A had not been performed, and the original aluminum battery cable had not been replaced by a copper battery cable. Representatives from Piper and Gill (the battery manufacturer) said that the aluminum battery cable's resistance increases with age, flight time, and flight cycles. The airplane had accumulated an estimated 18,000 hours of flight time. The fuel lines and the battery cable are 4 to 6 inches apart in the vicinity of the fuel selector. This is the same area where the pilot first observed the fire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.