Primary finding
Probable cause
An in-flight fire in the engine compartment for undetermined reasons.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that at the completion of a 1-hour cross-country flight, and while on the downwind leg for landing, he added power and observed flames coming out of the top and right side of the engine's cowling. The pilot initiated a turn towards the runway and landed uneventfully. Fire trucks responded and put out the fire. The pilot, who was an airframe and powerplant mechanic, reported that he had recently installed the engine, a Pratt & Whitney R-985-14B, following a major overhaul. The airplane had flown 3.5 hours since installation of the engine. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed extensive fire damage to the engine and forward part of the airframe, which precluded determination of the reason for the fire.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 18, 2009, about 1715 Pacific daylight time, a Boeing A75N1 Stearman, N450JN, experienced an in-flight fire during landing approach at Roy Williams Airport, Joshua Tree, California. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane, which was registered to Stearman Restorations, Inc., Cottage Grove, Oregon, and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight that departed from Chino, California, at 1615, with an intended destination of Joshua Tree. The pilot reported that while on the downwind leg for landing on runway 12, he added power and observed flames coming out of the top and right side of the engine's cowling. The pilot announced on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency that he had a fire and initiated a turn towards the runway. He landed the airplane uneventfully on the runway, and it came to a stop about midfield. The pilot turned off the fuel and electrical systems and exited the airplane after it came to a stop. Fire trucks responded and put out the fire. The pilot, who was an airframe and powerplant mechanic, reported that he had recently installed the engine, a Pratt & Whitney R-985-14B, following a major overhaul. The airplane had flown 3.5 hours since installation of the engine. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed extensive fire damage to the engine and forward part of the airframe, which precluded determination of the reason for the fire.