Incident Overview
A single-engine aircraft was being ferried from Toronto, Canada, to Washington, DC, after undergoing rework in Toronto. During the descent under instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with moderate icing, the pilot noticed a glow emanating from the right wing. As the pilot leaned over to investigate, the right engine fire warning light illuminated and the fire bell activated.
Pilot Actions and Landing
The pilot immediately secured the right engine and executed a landing without further incident. The aircraft landed safely, and no additional events occurred during the remainder of the flight.
Investigation Findings
Subsequent investigation revealed that the right engine inlet deicing boot had suffered a short circuit. The fire damage was confined to the deicing boot itself. The boot had been installed during the recent refurbishment performed in Toronto. Despite a thorough examination, the specific reason for the short circuit could not be determined.
Additional Context
The flight was operating in IFR conditions and moderate icing at the time of the event. The aircraft had been recently reworked, which included the installation of the failed deicing boot. No other anomalies were reported during the flight. The incident highlights a maintenance-related issue that led to an in-flight fire warning, but the root cause of the electrical short remains unidentified.