Cessna 310Q N69980 accident near Wapakoneta, Ohio

Probable cause

A fire due to a fuel leak of the cabin heater system. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance of the airplane, which failed to identify leaks in the heater system.

NTSB analysis

According to the private pilot, the cross-country flight was uneventful. As he parked the airplane on the ramp at the conclusion of the flight, a "puff of smoke" came from below the instrument panel. The pilot immediately shut down the electrical system, but the smoke continued to increase. He completed the airplane shutdown checklist, then he and the passengers exited the airplane. After exiting the airplane, the pilot stated he could hear fire in the nose compartment and saw paint on the nose compartment beginning to discolor. He removed the nose access panel and extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher.

The heater had a history of fuel leaks, as evidenced by cracks found in the heater and fuel evaporation marks in the fuel pump box. Airplane maintenance manuals and manufacturer service bulletins recommended recurring inspections of the heater system and fuel lines, but there was no documentation in the airplane's maintenance records that the inspections had been completed.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN14LA159 for the full record.