On October 19, 1995, a Piper PA-31 (registration N693MA) was involved in an aviation accident near Anderson, IN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: inadequate maintenance in that an engine oil line was not properly tightened after routine maintenance. A factor was the disconnected oil line. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
The pilot reported a left engine area fire shortly after leveling at 4,000 feet MSL, leading to an emergency landing. Post-flight inspection found the left turbocharger oil line detached; the aircraft had just completed a 50-hour inspection.
Incident Overview
According to the pilot, shortly after leveling the aircraft at 4,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), flames erupted from the left engine area. An emergency landing was performed. After landing, a post-flight examination revealed that the oil line supplying the left turbocharger was no longer attached.
Maintenance Background
The Director of Maintenance (DOM) for the company that owns the aircraft, registered as N693MA, stated that this flight was the first following a 50-hour inspection. The DOM indicated that it was not standard procedure to remove the turbocharger oil line during a 50-hour inspection.