Boeing 767 N196DN incident near Athens, GR

Probable cause

A short circuit involving the light in position L3 on the squib test panel. The specific cause of the short circuit could not be determined.

NTSB analysis

On June 16, 2010, at 1330 UTC, a Delta Air Lines B767-332ER experienced a cockpit fire during preflight preparations at Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (LGAV). The fire occurred prior to passenger boarding, and there were no injuries to the 3 flight crew and an unknown number of cleaning crew personnel on board the aircraft. During the preflight process, the first officer smelled smoke and then observed a flame coming out from the right sidewall accessory panel. He extinguished the fire by using a halon fire extinguisher.

The investigation was delgated to the NTSB by the Hellenic Air Accident Investigation and Aviation Safety Board.

The panels involved with the fire were examined in Boeing’s Engineering Quality Analysis (EQA) laboratory in Seattle, WA under the direction of the NTSB.

The damage on the squib test panel was most severe around the light in position L3.

Based on the damage to L3, it could not be determined if a short initiated as a result of physical damage, a conductive path of contaminants, a workmanship error that may have been created when L3 was removed and replaced, or a manufacturing defect with the lamp itself.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ENG10IA038 for the full record.