Incident Overview
A pilot reported that after starting the airplane and moving it onto an airstrip for fertilizer loading, the engine was shut down for approximately two hours. When the pilot attempted to restart the engine, it backfired and quit.
Sequence of Events
Following the backfire, the pilot waited 15 to 20 seconds, pumped the throttle three times, and attempted to restart the engine again. Immediately, smoke began emanating from the exhaust stack. A ground loader responded by discharging a fire extinguisher into the exhaust stack. The pilot then pulled the mixture control back, opened the throttle, and continued cranking the engine for three to four minutes, hoping to draw the flames back into the engine.
Fire and Aftermath
The pilot reported that after this period, heavy smoke forced him to abandon the airplane. North winds blew the flames upward, igniting the top fuel tank. The airplane was subsequently destroyed by the fire.