The International Cessna^® 170 Association

A couple of days ago at the local airport (KDAW) a space heater was left on overnight. The hangar caught fire about 0600 and someone driving by noticed. Some damage to the 2 or 3 aircraft inside (I don't know how much damage yet). The hangar is metal connected to others and rumor says soot damage to some other airplanes. No injuries to anyone and the fire department put the fire out. So far they think the fire was started by someone leaving a space heater on all night and it caught fire.

The hangar section where the fire was is identifiable by being the only one with no snow or ice on the roof.

This is probably the place that forum member Vic's plane was that was damaged by soot recently. He posted some of the story on another thread.

As the story goes, the intent was to plug a aircraft engine heater into a timer, instead a floor fired space heater was plugged in, and when the time was right.....

Anyway as I was told because I havent got up there yet was that when the fire burned it buckled the sheetmetal walls and roof alowing a good portion of the smoke and soot and firefighting goo to make it onto my airplane in the adjacent hanger. We were finishing up some work on the airplane so allmost all of my interior was outside of the airplane on the floor along with charts gps blankees pfd's and the such. also inside the airplane has a layer of soot, it even has coated the headliner.
My friend said that he tried to clean a spot on the fuselage and wings and looks as if the fabric has stained and the older paint on the fues. absorbed the sooty goo.
Something told me I should of picked the airplane up sooner, now I got to figure out what to do, and see what my insurance will do for me.

For now im thinking about changing my 170's name to Smokey

What a rotten shame! I'm sorry, Vic.

John

Vic,
You can't imagine how sorry I am for you! I read your other link and was wating for more infrmation befor I wrote. I too have had a fire and I wouldn't wish such a thing on my worst enemy! When you were asking for clean-up ideas I was going to mention Wesleys Bleach-white for painted surfaces (it works well and dosn't cut paint) It is actualy for white wall tires! Iv'e been there and done that, so my next question is, If the hanger walls were buckled, and you have a fabric wings, Do you see any streaching on the fabric on your wings? If so you realy need to look at reskinning your wings (just to be safe) As for the interior I haven't found anything that will clean and remove smoke damage from anything like that. Sounds like your talking a new interior! I hope your incurance Co. or the Airports is good to work with. Mine was! Best of luck!!!
brad

Brad makes a good point. We're not talking about aluminum skins here. Remember that it's the fabric and its coatings that keep the wings airworthy. Also, Heat shrinks fabric! There's no way of knowing what sort of temperatures or chemicals your 170 was subjected to. Obviously check the plane out throroughly, but pay special attention to the fabric.

Good luck!

Aparently the temps never got that high in the hanger where my plane was. each of the hanger have a detector that trips at 140 deg. We were told that it never tripped in my hanger, however I am fortunate that my buddy is a good evaluator of damage, we are both A&P's but he works more in the ga field especially vintage aircraft he's also my IA . It's ironic that I was going to get the airplane last weekend to bring it down to jersey, but we know how great the heat works in a 48, so I opted to wait for the artic front to pass well...... So all I can hope is to get this resolved before the spring hits but I think I'm being too optimistic.

Keep in mind that just because your insurance offers to settle with you (and if they settle for less than your actual damages) ... you are not stuck with that settlement.
Those that caused the damage are liable to satisfy your damage claims, and for any additional expenses/inconveniences you may suffer from the loss. (Need to rent a plane?)

All I ask is for the aircraft to come out of this better than it went in, I owe it this much. I hope it dosn't come to a pi##ing contest between the airport and my insurance co with me in the middle. I think what it comes down to here is who is the damaged party, Heck my 170 was napping Peacifully when this all happened.

And... you paid for the hangar space to protect your airplane.... not to subject it to damage from other's careless acts. Both that person and the airport/hangar-keeper is liable for your damages. Your most likely source of recovery is the hangar-keeper (and let HIM get his reimbursement of damages from the instigator if possible.)
You know those lawyers we all bad-mouth? Sounds as if it's time for you to make the acquaintance of one. Or two.

mrpibb wrote:All I ask is for the aircraft to come out of this better than it went in, I owe it this much. I hope it dosn't come to a pi##ing contest between the airport and my insurance co with me in the middle. I think what it comes down to here is who is the damaged party, Heck my 170 was napping Peacifully when this all happened.

Vic,
when I said that my insurance Co. was good I ment that all the Incurance Co's I worked with were good. Dad lost his WW1 replica D-6 Folker, one of a kind, and the Loyds of London wouldn't insure, so he had a total loss that he had to pick up his self. the other was a C-150 that I had just found all cylinders bad on! (a ten thousand expence on a twenty thousand aircraft didn't bother the owner that much) when it was called a total loss. I carry liabilty insurance but no (hanger keepers) it is up to the owners to make sure they are insured, and that is part of my annual paper work. I am not responsibale for fire or theft (altho I try my best to make sure neither happens) Check out your buddys airfield insurance (my guess they have hanger-keepers) and you should be in goood shape no matter what comes down the road!
brad

Coincidentally, a friend of mine who owns an R44 suggested to me that I place a space heater under the cowling over night to warm up the engine for an early morning flight. He places one directly under the engine compartment of his R44. I wonder how many others out there think this is a good idea?

Robert it would depend on a lot of things. First I'd never us a flame fired heater unattended. An electric heater might be OK but I'd use some ducting to try to keep the element as far away from combustibles in the engine compartment.

For unattended heating though I'd go with one of the pad type heaters or heat systems available for aircraft or an ordinary light bulb which in conjunction with an insulated blanket can keep your engine warm.

I have seen lots of little buddy style heaters installed in engine compartments and even in cabin areas to keep insturments warm, seem to work just fine, the faa here in alaska overlook the installations saying it is not a safty of flight issue or does it change the flight carateristics just a weight and balance change and log book entry.

mrpibb wrote:All I ask is for the aircraft to come out of this better than it went in, I owe it this much. I hope it dosn't come to a pi##ing contest between the airport and my insurance co with me in the middle. I think what it comes down to here is who is the damaged party, Heck my 170 was napping Peacifully when this all happened.

Vic be very careful about "betterment" as the adjuster will decrease his payment by the amount of the betterment. You can get there but it takes an understanding adjuster and a lot of negotiating skills. You need to first figure out what your legal rights are and what the insurance policies cover and then go from there.

My sympathies