On May 24, 2007, a Piper PA-44-180 (registration N255ER) was involved in an aviation accident near Lubbock, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the engine fuel supply line and the separation of the number one cylinder exhaust pipe resulting in an engine fire. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A flight instructor and student pilot evacuated their twin-engine airplane after the right engine caught fire while holding short of runway 35L. No injuries occurred; ARFF extinguished the fire.
Incident Overview
A flight instructor with 1,730 hours of flight time and a student pilot conducted a normal engine run-up in a twin-engine airplane prior to a local training flight. The run-up revealed no anomalies, and the airplane was cleared to taxi to runway 35L. While holding short of the active runway, the right engine lost power. The student pilot attempted to restart the right engine and observed flames emanating from the bottom of the engine cowling.
Evacuation and Response
The flight instructor and the student pilot evacuated the airplane through the cabin door without sustaining injuries. Airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) personnel responded to the aircraft fire and extinguished it.
Inspection Findings
An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the scene reported that the right engine nacelle sustained structural damage as a result of the engine fire. Additionally, the inspector found that the exhaust stack for the number one cylinder had separated. The inspector also reported that the braided fuel line leaked when the line was pressurized.