What happened
On 19 September 2015, a Piper PA-28-161 Cadet, registration G-CEZO, was involved in an accident at Fairoaks Airport, Surrey, during a training flight. Following the completion of pre-flight inspections, the pilot attempted to start the Lycoming O-3/20-D3G engine. Because the engine was still warm from a previous flight, the pilot initially bypassed the use of the engine primer.
After the initial failure to start, the pilot performed several subsequent start attempts, each involving the use of the engine primer. During the third attempt, the pilot manipulated the fuel mixture control to the idle/cut-off position to clear excess fuel from the carburettor before returning it to full rich. Following a brief pause, a fourth start attempt was initiated. During this process, a large amount of smoke was observed emanating from under the engine cowlings.
All three occupants—the crew and one passenger—were able to evacuate the aircraft without none injuries. The airfield fire service responded to the scene and successfully extinguished a fire that had been confined to the engine bay. The aircraft sustained fire damage to the engine and the engine compartment.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft following the incident to determine the origin of the fire. The inspection of the engine compartment following the event identified evidence of oil leaking from the lower engine cowling onto the exhaust system.
Findings
- The fire was triggered by the over-fuelling of the engine during the repeated start attempts.
- The presence of oil leaking onto the exhaust provided the necessary fuel source for the fire to ignite.