Accident Summary
During climb a few minutes after takeoff, a fire erupted in the airplane's right engine compartment. About 7 miles from the departure airport, the pilot reversed course and declared an emergency. Witnesses observed fire beneath and smoke trailing from the right engine, and heard boom sounds or explosions as the airplane descended. Although the pilot feathered the right engine's propeller, the descent continued. The 12-minute flight ended about 1.25 miles from the runway when the airplane impacted trees and power lines before coming to rest upside down adjacent to a private residence. A fuel-fed fire consumed the airframe and damaged nearby private residences.
Pre-Accident Events
The airplane was owned and operated by an airplane broker that intended to have it ferried to Korea. In preparation, the engines were overhauled, and maintenance was performed on various components including engine-driven fuel pumps, turbochargers, and propellers. Nacelle fuel tanks were installed, and the airplane received an annual inspection. A ferry pilot flew the airplane from Ohio to Nevada, where additional maintenance was performed. During the following month, the ferry pilot modified the fuel system by installing four custom-made ferry fuel tanks in the fuselage and associated plumbing in the wings to supplement the existing six certificated fuel tanks. The ferry pilot reinspected the airplane and requested FAA approval, but the application was not processed. The broker then contracted with a new ferry pilot (the accident pilot) to immediately pick up the airplane in Nevada and fly it to California, with the contract specifying airworthiness. The discharged ferry pilot stated that none of his modifications involved the right engine compartment and that he informed the accident pilot, at most three hours before takeoff, that fuel lines and fittings in the wings related to the ferry tanks needed to be disconnected. Examination revealed that the custom-made ferry tank plumbing in the wings had not been disconnected.
Examination Findings
Examination of the wreckage showed no evidence of internal engine component malfunction in either engine. The localized area around the right engine-driven fuel pump and its outlet port had sustained significantly greater fire damage. According to the Lycoming engine participant, the damage was consistent with a fuel-fed fire originating in this vicinity, possibly from a loose "B" nut, a failed fuel line, or an engine-driven fuel pump-related leak. The fuel supply line and connecting components were not located. The engine-driven fuel pump showed evidence of being engulfed in fire. The fire's area of origin was within the right engine compartment, but due to extensive pre- and post-impact fires, the point of origin and initiating event could not be determined.
The airplane's Pilot Operator's Handbook (POH) provides procedures for responding to an in-flight fire and securing an engine, including moving the firewall fuel shutoff valve to off, feathering the propeller, closing cowl flaps, turning off magneto switches, turning off the emergency fuel pump switch and fuel selector, and pulling the fuel boost pump circuit breaker. Wreckage examination showed that the right engine's propeller was feathered, but the firewall fuel shutoff valve was not off, the cowl flaps were open, the magneto switches were on, the emergency fuel pump switches and fuel selector were on, and the landing gear was down. The position of the fuel boost pump circuit breaker could not be determined due to fire damage. Calculations based on POH data indicate that an undamaged and appropriately configured airplane on one engine should have been able to climb 100 to 200 feet per minute and at least maintain altitude. Recorded Mode C altitude data showed that during the last five minutes of flight, the airplane descended while slowing about 16 knots below the required speed.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was a loss of power in the right engine due to an in-flight fuel-fed fire in the right engine compartment that, while the exact origin could not be determined, was likely related to the right engine-driven fuel pump, its fuel supply line, or fitting. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to adhere to the POH's procedures for responding to the fire and configuring the airplane to reduce aerodynamic drag.