NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

[M Towsley]

Gets your attention: http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/br...15X82832&key=1

It says the certificate is terminated and registration pending. The airport, 59M, is called Torchport Airport.

[Marv]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

I bet he was glad it did not burst into flames while he was a couple of miles from the airport. That would not have been good at all.

[lawheelock]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

Perhaps he could have saved his airplane had he pulled the fuel shutoff as he was exiting. However, if it was actually a BC12D-1 it only had a right door and he would have been in a hurry to get out. Probably a loose gascolator, or a rotten hose gascolator to carb or a badly leaking carburetor and maybe an exhaust leak to trigger the gasoline fire.
However, having burnde up, no one will ever know for sure.
Larry Wheelock TF671

[M Towsley]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

Unless there had been a recently done repair somewhere or he knew of something. I'm curious to see if there is any outcome.

[N96337]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

I was in a Luscombe once that had the primer feed line break on downwind. We smelled it first, then noticed the fuel near our feet... the pilot eased the power off slowly to avoid any pops or backfires, and I dug the fire extinguisher out. He wheeled it on and we got stopped just fine. The line broke just inside the firewall fitting (copper line....go figure) and was dripping. Maybe something like that in this case?
John

[waltermrich]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

What kind of fire extinguiser did you carry?

[paulnuss]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

I just replaced the fuel line from shut-off valve to gascolator. It was quite old, and there was significant cracking in outer layers where the sharp bend was made out of the firewall to go towards the gascolator. The extent of deterioration was not visible until the hose was removed. I don't know if it would have leaked but I think there was a high probablility later if not sooner. Replaced with new Aeroquip hose with 90 degrees fitting to eliminate the sharp bend necessary to clear heat muff. These airplanes are aging.

[M Towsley]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

When I bought my plane, Paul, it had a rubber fuel line similar to car fuel line. Couple of hose clamps and that was it. It now has fire-sleeved braided line from the valve 90 to gascolator and similar from gascolator to carb. Makes me feel a little bit better compared to the old, cracked rubber line that was on it. We have a company not too far from me who makes the stuff. Major aircraft distributor and I got to see how they made it.

[M Towsley]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

Oooohhhh, look at those two pretty red Taylorcrafts right in a row.

[RobertP]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

The second time I flew my F22A the plastic fuel sight gauge at the wing root on the Pilots side decided to become detached from the fitting which holds it into the tank and fuel began spraying out all over me! I was on the climb out at 500 feet and attempted to ram the plastic pipe back into place without success! I made a very low level bad weather circuit ( if you could call it that ) and managed to land back ok with all the electrics switched off! It scared the sh*t out of me! I never knew such a volume of fuel could escape through a small plastic pipe in a short time!

The plastic piping over time becomes hardened and allows it to become detached from the fitting something I always check regularly now!

[Carrieve]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

After I flooded my BC12-D one time and it backfired on start and started the dripping gas on fire, I have always carried a small Halon (legal) extinguisher in the pocket in the baggage compartment. It gives me a large feeling of safety. And maybe I can help someone else someday if they have a problem. Just a thought.

[M Towsley]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

I carry a Halon with me too, but I would be tempted to ask for a credit card number from the owner of the plane on fire, before putting it out. (lol) These things are EXPENSIVE!

[Bird]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

I like the part where it says, "within 15 minutes, it consumed the entire airplane", 15 minutes? come on now.

[M Towsley]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

I'm thinking they meant 'seconds'.

[waltermrich]

Re: NTSB Link for Taylorcraft Fire

Where does one get a small Halon fire extinguisher, I have an old one from 16 years ago, but I thought they were now illegal because of ozone depletion problems?