What happened
The incident occurred while the airplane was undergoing a jump-start procedure initiated from an automobile. A flight instructor had temporarily left the area to retrieve equipment, leaving the student pilot alone in the cockpit.
While the instructor was away, the student pilot noticed smoke entering the cabin and immediately alerted the instructor upon their return. The situation escalated rapidly as the aircraft began to burn. The fire caused catastrophic damage to the airplane, resulting in its complete destruction.
The investigation
Post-incident examination of the wreckage revealed the origin of the fire. Investigators determined that a fuel line had developed a pinhole leak. This leak allowed fuel to spray directly onto a hot terminal on the battery during the jump-start process.
The combination of the leaking fuel and the high heat from the battery terminal ignited the fuel, leading to the rapid spread of fire throughout the cabin and airframe.
Findings
Several factors contributed to this accident:
- The use of an automobile for jump-starting the aircraft created a hazardous environment.
- A fuel line leak allowed flammable fuel to contact an electrical source.
- The battery terminal was sufficiently hot to ignite the leaking fuel.
- The absence of the flight instructor during the initial phase of the incident delayed immediate intervention, although the student pilot acted appropriately by calling for help.
The student pilot successfully evacuated the aircraft before it was fully engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported among the occupants.