History of Flight
On June 5, 2008, at 0707 central daylight time, a Beech BE-58, N3106W, operated by Jim Hankins Air Service, Inc., experienced an outboard left wing fire during the takeoff roll from Hawkins Field (HKS) in Jackson, Mississippi. The flight was a repositioning flight under 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight rules flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged.
According to the pilot, after being cleared for takeoff, he activated the landing lights and strobes. During the takeoff roll at about 50 knots, he glanced at the engine gauges before rotation. He then heard an "explosion" and felt a thud in the rudder pedals, similar to hitting a runway centerline light. He looked up and saw damage on the left wing with black smoke emerging from a hole. He closed the throttles and slowed the airplane. As it decelerated, fire was observed coming from the wing. The pilot stopped the airplane, exited, and extinguished the fire using an onboard fire extinguisher.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 26, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane, issued on September 1, 1998. He also held a certified flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine, airplane multiengine, and instrument airplane. His first-class medical certificate was issued on December 22, 2007, with no restrictions.
Aircraft Information
The six-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear, twin-engine airplane was manufactured in 1973. It was powered by two Teledyne Continental Motors IO-520-C, 285-horsepower engines and equipped with two-bladed Hartzell Model PHC-J3YF-2UF constant-speed propellers.
A review of the airplane's logbooks revealed that the left wing fuel cells (all three) were replaced on May 2, 2007, and the right wing fuel cells (all three) were replaced on November 20, 2007. The most recent annual inspection was performed on August 30, 2007, at a total time of 9,814.1 hours. The most recent 100-hour inspection was performed on February 25, 2008, at 10,013.3 hours.
Meteorological Information
The 0735 surface weather observation at HKS reported: winds 170 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 6 statute miles with haze, ceiling overcast at 1300 feet, temperature 26 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 22 degrees Celsius, and altimeter setting 29.95 inches of mercury.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed that approximately 37 inches of the outboard left wing and wing tip remained attached but exhibited compression buckling and fire damage. The upper wing skin panel inboard of the wing tip was bent upward, shearing four rivets on four ribs. The flexible hose stand-off connecting the siphon break check valve to the outboard leading edge cell was observed without an attached rubber hose or clamp (vent line). All other flexible hoses and hose clamps were secure and attached. A thermally damaged hose (vent line) was observed with a tight hose clamp and a crimped end within the clamp. The separated hose was found lying below the siphon break-bent line interconnect. The landing light remained attached by the outboard side of its mounting bracket. The landing light ground and power leads exhibited sooting, and the protective plastic coating was destroyed by fire, leaving wires exposed. The ground wire remained connected and intact. The landing light power wire was separated, and the exposed end exhibited melting, with evidence of arcing along the base of the structure (lighting hole) and adjacent interior upper wing skin.
The left strobe light remained intact and attached to the cannon plug, exhibiting thermal damage and a partially melted shield. The outboard leading edge fuel cell was removed for a leak check. The fuel cell was pressurized with a regulated air source and checked for external leaks. An air leak was found on the aft side of the fuel cap assembly at the interior fuel placard mounting rivets. Further examination revealed that the fuel full placard and rivets were loose when moved by hand. No visible fuel leaks or staining was observed around the vents or sump drains of the airplane. The fuel pump and fuel strainer did not exhibit any leaks or staining.
Maintenance Manual Reference
Review of the Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Baron 55 and 58 Maintenance Manual, Table 601, 100-Hour Inspection, D Wings and Carry Through Structure, item 6, states: "Fuel Cells and Vents - Inspect fuel cells and vent lines as indicated in 28-10-00, 201..." Further, item 8 states: "Electrical Wiring and Equipment - Inspect for chafing, damage, security and attachment."