Incident Narrative
The event began during the takeoff run when the pilot perceived a popping sound from the engine bay. Shortly thereafter, smoke started to appear within the cockpit. Instead of aborting the takeoff, the pilot decided to continue the acceleration and then return to the departure airport. The aircraft entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, where the smoke in the cockpit became dense and severe. Despite this, the pilot successfully brought the aircraft to a safe landing on the runway.
Inspection Results
Following the landing, a comprehensive inspection of the aircraft was undertaken. Examination of the engine compartment showed that the engine itself, the cowling that encloses it, and the firewall had been damaged by fire. Closer inspection of the engine systems identified a failure in a fuel injector line on the number 5 cylinder. The line was found to be broken, and this break had allowed fuel to be sprayed directly onto the turbocharger component. No other anomalies were noted during the inspection.