Amateur-built SH-2R accident near Bakersfield, California, August 17, 1993
On August 17, 1993 at about 11:04 pm local time, a amateur-built SH-2R, registered N333KM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bakersfield, California (Meadows Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY THE PILOT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN AN OIL LINE LEAK NEAR THE AIRPLANE'S EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1993 · about 11:04 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Meadows Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SH-2R
- Registration
- N333KM · registry record · serial 586
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT CHANGED THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE OIL THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FLIGHT. AFTER TAKEOFF, AN INFLIGHT FIRE ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE POST FLIGHT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S OIL TEMPERATURE SENDING UNIT LINE TO THE GAUGE WAS FOUND DAMAGED AT A CRIMPED FITTING. THE PILOT BELIEVES THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY HIM DURING THE ENGINE OIL CHANGE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,821 hours in all; 466 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 685 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1993; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFL at 11:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12L, 10,857 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:08 pm from BFL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.