Incident Overview
On February 21, 2016, at approximately 2015 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-151 (registration N41618) was substantially damaged by an engine fire after landing at Northeast Florida Regional Airport (SGJ) in St. Augustine, Florida. The aircraft was performing a local instructional flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight instructor and his pilot-rated student were not injured.
Sequence of Events
According to the flight instructor, the engine stopped producing power during taxi immediately after landing. An attempt to restart the engine resulted in a fire. The airplane was stopped, and both occupants egressed. No fire extinguisher was aboard the aircraft, so the instructor called 911 using a cellular telephone.
Emergency Response
The airport's fire department was closed at the time. Local police and fire services responded to the call. Police were initially delayed at a perimeter gate, which was subsequently opened by airport personnel. The first police officer on scene used a hand-held fire extinguisher from the cruiser to suppress the fire. Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and ensured the fire was fully extinguished. Firefighters gained access to the aircraft through an entry point that had been previously briefed and rehearsed with the airport authority.
Aircraft Examination
An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector examined the airplane and determined that the engine firewall and mount required replacement due to fire damage. When asked why no fire extinguisher was installed, the operator stated that the accident airplane was a late addition to the school's fleet and that he and his staff had "forgotten" to install one. All other airplanes at the school were equipped with fire extinguishers.
Pilot Information
The flight instructor held commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent third-class medical certificate was issued on January 18, 2016. He reported 153 total hours of flight experience, with 65 hours in the accident airplane make and model.
The pilot-rated student held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most recent first-class medical certificate was issued on January 27, 2016. He reported 895 total hours of flight experience, with 20 hours in the accident airplane make and model.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, single-engine, low-wing airplane was manufactured in 1974 and powered by a Lycoming O-320 series engine. A review of logbook entries revealed that the most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on July 27, 2015, at 7,717 total aircraft hours.
Emergency Procedures Reference
Review of the Pilot's Operating Handbook, Section 3, Emergency Procedures indicated that engine fires during start are usually the result of overpriming, and the first attempt to extinguish the fire should be to try to start the engine and draw the excess fuel back into the induction system.