Amateur-built SEAWIND 3000 N516SW accident near Bloomington, Indiana

Probable cause

An in-flight fire for reasons that could not be determined because the examination of the airplane did not reveal the source of the fire.

NTSB analysis

The pilot and one passenger were on a cross-country flight in a single-engine amphibian airplane. The pilot reported to an airport tower air traffic controller that the airplane had a low fuel pressure indication and that he planned to fly directly to the airport. However, the airplane impacted terrain about 3 miles north of the airport. One witness reported seeing the airplane on fire before it crashed. A postcrash fire consumed most of the composite-frame airplane.

An examination of the engine's accessories was not performed due to fire and thermal damage. Although the engine sustained fire damage, compression and continuity through the engine drive train was established, and no preimpact abnormalities were noted. A section of an alternator cable and a section of a fuel line that had signatures consistent with fraying and thermal damage, respectively, were examined to determine if chafing and electrical arcing had occurred between them. However, the examined sections exhibited no evidence of chafing and arcing. The accident is consistent with an in-flight fire; however, the source of the fire could not be determined because the examination did not reveal any preimpact abnormities.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN14LA504 for the full record.