Fire at Berry Aviation Destroys Dornier 328-100

By Kirby J. Harrison

AINalerts >> July 2008
Cabin interior and electronics, FBOs, Safety

A flash fire in the hangar at Berry Aviation in Austin, Texas, last Friday morning destroyed an executive-configured 30-passenger Dornier 328-100 turboprop that was undergoing an extensive interior refurbishment. A spokesman for Berry Aviation said the airplane had been completely stripped of its old interior and a worker was using a variety of chemical products to remove sealants and other materials. James Hobizal, director of safety for Berry, told AIN that fans had been placed at both ends of the cabin to provide ventilation. The worker, who was in the cabin when the fire broke out, received minor burns and, after being taken to the local hospital, was back at work the same afternoon. “The only things salvageable,” said Hobizal, “were both engines, the propellers, most of the avionics, the landing gear and interior components that had been removed for refurbishment.” He added that there was no fuel on board the airplane at the time. There was no damage to nearby aircraft and pressure-washing is expected to eliminate extensive smoke damage to the hangar.

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