Amateur-built RV14 N365EM accident near Aumsville, Oregon

Probable cause

An inflight fire that originated in the engine compartment for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

NTSB analysis

The airplane was in cruise flight when all electrical instrumentation was suddenly lost, and the pilot started to smell burning wires. A few seconds later, the smoke began to fill the cockpit and fire started to enter the lower part of the cockpit by the left side rudder pedals. The pilot initiated an emergency descent and subsequently landed in a field. The pilot egressed the airplane and the fire continued to burn until first responders arrived.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed extensive thermal damage to the engine and its surrounding area, which precluded identifying the exact origin of the fire. However, there was significantly more charring and fire damage to the left side of the engine compartment and engine mount powder coating. Based on the pilot’s statement and the charring of the engine mount powder coating, it is likely that the fire started on the left side of the engine compartment.

A service bulletin issued by the airplane manufacturer identified a potential leaking of Kavlico pressure sensors that were installed in the aluminum manifold located on the upper left side of the airplane’s firewall. However, the accident airplane’s manifold and both sensors were destroyed by the postaccident fire. Although a sensor failure is a possible cause, there are many potential failure points in fuel and oil supply and pressure indication lines that could have resulted in the fire. Due to the extensive thermal damage, the origin of the fire could not be determined based on available evidence.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR19LA189 for the full record.