Faulty Wiring Caused Fatal July Plane Crash
I want to inform you of new safety warnings regarding standard small planes. On 9 January, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an urgent safety recommendation about the Piper PA-31T aircraft to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The NTSB issued the recommendation after discovering faulty wiring in a Piper PA-31T may have caused a fatal crash in northern California.
Details of the Crash
On 29 July 2016, a pilot, flight nurse, and transport medic transported a patient from Crescent City to Oakland. In transit, the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit and declared an emergency to the air traffic controllers. The plane then disappeared.
First responders then discovered the plane’s wreckage in Humboldt County, approximately 280 miles north of San Francisco. All four persons onboard the Piper PA-31T medical transport flight were killed.
Cause of the Crash
Investigators believe the plane crashed after an in-flight fire caused the aircraft to break apart while still in the air. The newly released accident report indicates that the fire was caused by friction between electrical lines and hydraulic lines in the underside of the aircraft.
NTSB investigators reached these conclusions after discovering hydraulic and electrical lines touching six other Piper PA-31T aircraft. When these two lines touch, they can chafe, creating a spark that ignites the many flammable fluids necessary for an aircraft’s operation.
Details of the Safety Recommendations
The NTSB safety recommendation issued to the FAA calls for aircraft operators and maintenance crews to inspect the floor area of an aircraft where the hydraulic lines and electrical wires were found to be touching.
Typical maintenance inspection procedures do not include enough guidance on inspecting the floor area of an aircraft where the problem is found to exist. Consequently, maintenance inspections may not discover the problem before declaring a plane airworthy. The urgent recommendation provides guidance on inspecting the area and a timeline by which to complete the inspections.
The recommendation extends to Piper PA-31T, PA-31T1, PA-31T2, PA-31T3, and PA-31P-350 aircraft.
How significant is the recommendation?
This safety recommendation and warning is significant as the NTSB only issues such directives “when the Board believes an imminent threat to life and safety exists.” As such, if the issues with the Piper aircraft listed above persist, more crashes may occur.
How does this affect you?
The Piper PA-31 series of aircraft are twin-engined aircraft that typically carry small cargo or a few passengers traveling a short distance. As such, they are also often used for medical transport flights.
Most people will not be passengers aboard these types of planes because of their standard uses. Therefore, those most at risk from the safety problem are those who spend time at small airports or fly with private pilots. The Piper PA-31 series of aircraft are routinely seen in California, though, so all persons using a small aircraft should ensure they are not traveling on a Piper PA-31 series that has not been inspected.
Dangers of Air Ambulances
This safety recommendation also underscores the ongoing safety problems with planes known as air ambulances, as the Piper PA-31 series aircraft are also commonly used as medical transport planes. The FAA recognizes ongoing safety issues with these kinds of aircraft, where poor safety procedures may further risk endangered people’s lives.
Related Article by Ed Smith:
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