<< >> NASA ASRS Report 161608, October 1990

GA small aircraft lost a section of tailpipe downstream of the muffler before takeoff. Problem was not detected until aircraft returned because of an alternator failure during climb.

Attributes
ACN	161608
Time
Date	199010
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ok33
State Reference	OK
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 260 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	161608
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Exhaust downpipe separated from muffler during engine start. This condition was not noticed by pilot or passenger. Normal takeoff was initiated. At approximately 300' AGL a circuit breaker (alternate field) opened. The altitude gauge dropped to 0. I decided to land again. During the turn both pilot and passenger detected odor of 'burned plastic.' following taxi back to tie-down area, we found exhaust pipe lying on ground. Inspection revealed approximately 1 sf of cowl fiberglass was melted away.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA LOST A SECTION OF TAILPIPE DOWNSTREAM OF THE MUFFLER BEFORE TKOF. PROBLEM WAS NOT DETECTED UNTIL ACFT RETURNED BECAUSE OF AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE DURING CLIMB.

Narrative: EXHAUST DOWNPIPE SEPARATED FROM MUFFLER DURING ENG START. THIS CONDITION WAS NOT NOTICED BY PLT OR PAX. NORMAL TKOF WAS INITIATED. AT APPROX 300' AGL A CB (ALTERNATE FIELD) OPENED. THE ALT GAUGE DROPPED TO 0. I DECIDED TO LAND AGAIN. DURING THE TURN BOTH PLT AND PAX DETECTED ODOR OF 'BURNED PLASTIC.' FOLLOWING TAXI BACK TO TIE-DOWN AREA, WE FOUND EXHAUST PIPE LYING ON GND. INSPECTION REVEALED APPROX 1 SF OF COWL FIBERGLASS WAS MELTED AWAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.