On July 16, 1998, a Cessna 177 (registration N3461T) was involved in an aviation accident near Cassville, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine backfire during restart attempt igniting spilled fuel, with no mechanical anomalies found. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing rollout, an aircraft engine quit and subsequently backfired upon restart attempt, igniting fuel spilled on the ground. Examination found no mechanical anomalies.
What happened
The pilot reported that the airplane's engine ceased operation during the landing rollout phase. After bringing the aircraft to a complete stop, the pilot attempted to restart the engine. This action resulted in an engine backfire, which ignited raw fuel that had spilled onto the ground.
The investigation
A thorough examination of the surviving airplane components was conducted to determine the cause of the failure. The inspection revealed no mechanical anomalies or defects in the aircraft systems.
Probable cause
Engine backfire during restart attempt igniting spilled fuel, with no mechanical anomalies found.