What happened
On 24 February 1999, a Jodel D120A, registration G-BJOE, was undergoing pre-flight preparations for a private flight at East Fortune, Scotland. The pilot, who was also a co-owner of the aircraft, moved the plane from its hangar and performed standard external inspections, including checking the oil level and the engine compartment.
After applying the brakes and removing the forward chocks, the pilot attempted to start the Continental C90-14F engine. The initial priming attempt resulted in the engine kicking but failing to ignite. Following a second priming attempt, the engine successfully started and began running normally, with oil pressure rising immediately. However, while allowing the engine to warm up, the pilot observed smoke drifting near the front of the starboard wing. The pilot promptly shut down the engine and closed the fuel cock. Upon approaching the engine, traces of flame were still visible near the carburettor-heat box. There were no injuries during the incident, though the engine cowling sustained some damage to the fiberglass outer layer and scorched paint.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the sequence of events leading to the ignition of the fire and the condition of the engine compartment.
Findings
- The fire was localized to the area of the carburettor-heat box.
- The pilot identified that over-priming the engine was the primary factor, noting that the second priming attempt after the initial failed start likely contributed to the accumulation of excess fuel, which subsequently ignited.