Accident
On May 7, 2011, at 2008 central daylight time, a Piper PA-46-350P airplane, registration N80JB, experienced an inflight fire near Chico, Texas. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial thermal damage. The flight originated from Fort Worth about 1950 and was operating under visual flight rules on a personal flight.
According to the pilot, during cruise flight at 4,500 feet mean sea level, he detected a change in engine noise accompanied by fluctuations in engine speed. The pilot began diverting to the nearest airport when the engine started running rough. Shortly thereafter, smoke entered the cabin. As the smoke increased, the pilot performed a forced landing on a highway. The nose landing gear did not extend, and the airplane slid to a stop on the main landing gear and fuselage nose section.
Aircraft and Operator
The airplane was registered to and operated by Christian Air Brotherhood of Wichita Falls, Texas, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
Maintenance records revealed that a propeller strike had occurred in early February 2011. Repairs were completed on May 3, 2011, including removal, cleaning, and inspection of the engine. The pilot reported that the airplane had flown only four to five hours since being returned to service.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board, along with technical representatives from Piper Aircraft Company and Lycoming Engines, conducted a postaccident examination. Substantial damage was found to the forward fuselage and firewall. Heat distortion was noted on the nose gear door, which impeded normal nose landing gear extension. Clamps on the turbocharger's intermediate exhaust crossover tube were found unsecured. The NTSB fire investigator identified thermal distress on the fuel flow transducer and its line. No additional preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation.