Swezey T/Molnar D VANS RV-10 N110TD

Summary

On 7 May 2010 at about 19:11 local time, a Swezey T/Molnar D VANS RV-10 registered N110TD was involved in an accident near Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 May 2010 at 19:11

Classification

Accident

Location

Ridgeland, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Ridgeland Airport (3J1)

Coordinates

32.4897, -80.9881

Aircraft

Swezey T/Molnar D VANS RV-10

Registration

N110TD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Athens → Ridgeland

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10LA256

2 people were seriously injured.

An explosion and fire of unknown origin during taxi from landing. Contributing to the accident was the builder's noncompliance with the manufacturer's suggested designed fuel system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, while on short final he smelled fuel. While taxiing off the runway after landing, the passenger opened the door to ventilate the airplane. Immediately after opening the door, the cabin was engulfed in an intense fire, which blew out the windows. The pilot said that it was similar to a "vapor fire." The occupants exited the airplane and subsequently the airplane exploded a second time and was consumed by fire. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the majority of the airplane was consumed by fire. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuel pump had automotive type rubber hoses and quick clamps used to attach the hoses to right angle fittings, instead of the fuel lines made of soft aluminum tubing provided by the kit manufacturer. Although it could not be determined if a fuel leak was caused by a faulty hose or clamp, it is likely that fuel had leaked from the builder's redesigned fuel system. It is also likely that a spark was generated by either the flap motor or from a static discharge. The pilot reported that he normally raises the flaps after clearing the runway, but could not recall if he had raised the flaps just prior to the first explosion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.