What happened
On 1 June 2014, a Piper PA-28-151 (modified) Cherokee Warrior, registration G-BXLY, was parked on the West Apron at Leeds Bradford Airport for a private flight. After completing all necessary pre-start checks, the pilot attempted to start the engine. Following three unsuccessful attempts to ignite the engine, smoke was observed emerging from the engine cowling. Shortly thereafter, flames became visible. The pilot immediately deactivated all electrical equipment and evacuated the aircraft along with the passenger.
Air Traffic Control was notified of the incident via an internal call from airport security. The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (RFFS) arrived at the scene within one minute of the alert. Although the fire had progressed to visible flames by the time responders arrived, the fire was rapidly suppressed. There were no injuries to the crew or passenger, though the aircraft sustained engine damage only.
The investigation
An investigation led by the aircraft operator utilized CCTV footage to review the sequence of events, specifically focusing on the multiple engine start attempts. A technical examination of the aircraft's engine and various components was performed, which revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or component malfunction. The investigation focused on the actions taken during the priming and starting process.
Findings
- The fire was likely caused by over-priming the engine during the repeated start attempts.
- No mechanical or technical faults were found within the engine or its associated components.
Safety action
It was recommended that the pilot undergo refresher training covering the full private pilot syllabus, with a specific emphasis on emergency procedures and the appropriate actions to take during an engine fire. Following this training, the pilot must complete a check flight before being permitted to hire aircraft from the organization again.