Cirrus SR22 N723CD

Summary

On 16 November 2004 at about 15:35 local time, a Cirrus SR22 registered N723CD, operated by AirShares Elite, was involved in an incident near Peachtree City, Georgia, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 November 2004 at 15:35

Classification

Incident

Location

Peachtree City, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Peachtree City - Falcon Field (KFFC)

Coordinates

33.3569, -84.5719

Aircraft

Cirrus SR22

Registration

N723CD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

AirShares Elite

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Peachtree City → Griffin

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL05IA025

Nobody was injured.

The failure of maintenance personnel to properly torque a fuel line fitting, which resulted in a fuel leak and in-flight engine fire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During initial climb after takeoff, the pilot heard a "pop" noise followed by a change in the exhaust sound. The pilot elected to return to the airport for landing, and, during the descent, he detected the odor of composite burning. The pilot stated that, after normal touchdown on the main wheels, the nose of the airplane dropped abnormally low, and the propeller struck the runway. Smoke and flames were observed coming from inside the engine cowling. Examination of the airplane revealed the engine and cowling sustained fire damage, the nose landing gear assembly was attached and fire-damaged, and each propeller blade showed tip damage and minimal clearance above the ground. Examination of the nose landing gear assembly revealed the polymer pucks in the shock strut assembly were fire-damaged and collapsed. Examination of the engine revealed the fuel flow transducer located above the No. 3 cylinder displayed blue stains at the forward and aft fittings, and fuel was observed to leak from the B-nut fitting when the fuel boost pump was powered. The B-nut was then tightened, the field test procedure was repeated, and no fuel leak was observed. The source of ignition for the fire could not be determined. Maintenance personnel had removed the No. 3 cylinder approximately 21.5 hours before the incident flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.