Accident Sequence
During the landing roll, the pilot reported that wind pushed the airplane to the right. He overcompensated with left rudder, causing the airplane to veer to the left, abruptly rotate about 180°, and come to a stop on the runway at a taxiway intersection. The engine stopped simultaneously.
Post-Landing Events
The tower controller asked if the pilot could restart the engine or if he needed a tow. The pilot attempted to restart the engine four to five times, engaging the starter for 5 to 8 seconds with approximately 5 seconds between attempts. For the first few attempts, he performed a "hot start." During one hot start attempt, he observed black smoke emanating from the lower left engine cowling. Leaning forward, he saw flames in the same location. He then attempted a flooded start after observing the fire.
Fire and Egress
The pilot searched for a fire extinguisher but could not find one. He egressed the airplane without further incident. The director of maintenance later reported that the fire extinguisher was located in the seat pocket behind the copilot's seat.
Additional Information
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
The automated weather observation station reported that, about seven minutes before the accident, the wind was from 360° at 10 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The pilot landed on runway 10.
The pilot's operating handbook contained section 3.7, "Engine Fire During Start," stating: "Engine fires during start are usually the result of overpriming." Section 4.13, "Starting Engine," stated: "Starter manufacturers recommend that cranking periods be limited to thirty seconds with a two minute rest between cranking periods. Longer cranking periods will shorten the life of the starter."