Beaver catches fire - 19 Feb 2008

[CD]

Beaver catches fire
Charter company plane ignites with two people on board

YELLOWKNIFER
February 27, 2008
Amanda Vaughan

A flash fire erupted in an Arctic Sunwest Charters plane prior to take-off near the Yellowknife airport on Feb. 19.

"By the time it was reported, the fire was already out," said Thom Pilgrim , Arctic Sunwest's general manager.

The de Havilland Turbo Beaver was on the ramp at the company's airport location, and the pilot was conducting his pre-flight checks when a hydraulic line on the airplane ruptured.

The line released atomized hydraulic fluid, which Pilgrim said was ignited by "an unknown source."

A flash fire resulted, which Pilgrim said was out very quickly.

Pilgrim said there was only one passenger onboard in addition to the pilot, and Arctic Sunwest employees were able to remove the two immediately.

"The passenger is OK," he said.

He said the pilot sustained minor injuries from the fire.

Arctic Sunwest issued a release stating the pilot was taken to Stanton Territorial Hospital and subsequently medevaced to Edmonton just for monitoring. Pilgrim said the pilot was released from hospital Feb. 21.

Pilgrim said there was no need for a fire response from the airport's emergency service, because the fire burned out very quickly.

"There was no damage to the aircraft," he said.

The incident was reported to the Transportation Safety Board, which will be investigating. The release stated the aircraft will also be inspected by Arctic Sunwest maintenance to determine the cause of the line rupture.

"This is an uncommon thing," he said.

Airport officials had no information on the fire. Department of Transportation spokesperson Earl Blacklock said because there was no response required by the airport's fire services, they did not need to keep their own record of the incident.

[jspitfire]

Heard about this one shortly after it happened. Good to hear his burns wern't too serious.

Cadors Number: 2008C0594 Reporting Region: Prairie & Northern

Occurrence Date: 2008/02/19
Occurrence Time: 1458 Z Day Or Night: day-time
Fatalities: 0 Injuries:
Canadian Aerodrome ID: CYZF Aerodrome Name: Yellowknife
Reported By: TSB Edmonton AOR Number:
TSB Class Of Investigation: 5 TSB Occurrence No.: A08W0045
Event InformationHydraulic problem
Landing gear
Fire - cockpit
Aircraft Category: Aeroplane Country of Registration: CANADA
Make: DEHAVILLAND - CAN Model: DHC 2 MKIII
Year Built: 1967 Amateur Built: No
Engine Make: PRATT & WHITNEY-CAN Engine Model: PT6A-27
Engine Type: Turbo prop Gear Type: Land
Phase of Flight: Parked Damage: Minor
Owner: 171817 CANADA INC - ARCTIC SUNWEST CHARTERS
Operator Type: Commercial

Detail Information
Date: 2008/02/21
Further Action Required: Yes
O.P.I.: Maintenance & Manufacturing
Narrative: An Arctic Sunwest Charters de Havilland DHC-2T Mk III Turbo Beaver was undergoing pre-flight checks on the company ramp in Yellowknife, NT. During the ground check, the ski hydraulic line ruptured and sprayed type J14 hydraulic fluid into the cockpit. The atomized hydraulic fluid was ignited by an unknown source resulting in a flash fire. While there was no damage to the aircraft, the pilot sustained superficial injuries. Sunwest maintenance will be inspecting the aircraft to determine the cause of the hydraulic line rupture.

User Name: Ridley, Rod
Date: 2008/02/22
Further Action Required: No
O.P.I.: System Safety
Narrative: UPDATE Maintenance and Manufacturing reported that the high pressure line for the wheel skis that runs FWD from the power pack between the two front seats ruptured causing a mist to shoot upward directly toward the pilot. The power wires for the Power Pack are routed along the same path as the aluminum fluid lines and an arc occurred due to a chaffed protective cover over the "Knife" connectors which allowed the connector to come into contact with the fluid line. This resulted in a flash fire causing burns to the pilot. There was no apparent damage to the aircraft. The company has been in contact with the TSB and will be sending the line that failed to a Vancouver company for analysis. There are two distinctive marks on the tubing, one being where the pin hole formed that appears to be an electrical arc, which could have either weakened the tubing wall allowing the hydraulic pressure to burst the line or simply arced through the line creating the hole and the fire, the second is approx 3/16 inch forward of the first and is clearly an arc burn. The company has already implemented a fix on their other Turbo Beaver that has the same installation, by shielding all the lines and electrical wires with Fire shielding providing protection. They are also running the occurrence through their SMS system and will be submitting an SDR.

[Northern Skies]

This resulted in a flash fire causing burns to the pilot.

I really hope he's ok!

There is at least one avcanada member who flies that plane.

[Zapp Brannigan]

Wow, hope the pilots is alright. I've never heard of a hydraulic line starting a fire.

[Four1oh]

since when is hydraulic fluid flammable???!! Even atomized, I thought that stuff was safe in that regard!

[Highflyinpilot]

Hopefully the pilot's burns are not too serious.


What user flies that aircraft?

[really green]

Shit, I really hope he's ok. Sounds like a good egress job done by all.

[kilpicki]

t This is the reason Skydrol was developed.

[Troubleshot]

this is from the MSDS on 5606:

Flash Point 182
Flash Point Method PMCC
Lower Explosion Limit N/K
Upper Explosion Limit N/K
Extinguishing Media USE WATER FOG, CARBON DIOXIDE, FOAM, OR DRY CHEMICAL
Special Fire Fighting Procedures WEAR FIRE FIGHTING PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND A SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS. COOL FIRE EXPOSED CONTAINERS WITH WATER SPRAY. CONTAIN RUNOFF
Unusual Fire/Explosion Hazards COMBUSTION OR HEAT OF FIRE MAY PRODUCE HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS SUCH AS CARBON DIOXIDE/MONOXIDE. VAPORS OF MATERIAL MAY BE EXPLOSIVE IN CONFINED ARES

[Bulawrench]

Have you made a fire with used engine oil? That stuff goes up like you wouldn't believe.
I had an airplane some time ago that had installed a float power pack in the engine compartment and strapped a lead chunk to the tail. Good way to start the chain of events. One unapproved hose fabrication away from an explosion.This modification was done free of any paperwork. Funny what you see out of Alaska.