Incident Overview
Following an uneventful approach and landing, the pilot was taxiing the aircraft back up the runway when the right engine suddenly quit. The right-seat passenger immediately observed flames emanating from the engine and alerted the pilot.
Pilot Actions
The pilot swung the aircraft into a position that used the wind to keep flames away from the wing. The pilot then secured both engine fuel shut-off valves, the heater fuel shut-off, and the aircraft electrical system. An evacuation was ordered, and the pilot attempted to extinguish the fire using a hand-held fire extinguisher.
Fire Suppression
The fire continued to burn for approximately 15 minutes until the local fire department arrived and extinguished the flames.
Investigation Findings
The extent of the damage precluded a definitive determination of the fire's source. It is believed that the fire originated from a broken fuel line or a separated fitting in the engine fuel system. This allowed a quantity of fuel to collect in the nacelle, leading to the engine quitting from fuel starvation. The fire ignited, and the pilot subsequently closed the fuel shut-off valve.