What happened
On October 4, 2025, a Piper PA28-161, registration LV-AZS, was preparing for a local pleasure flight at the Río Chico Aerodrome in Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz. During the engine start sequence for taxiing toward runway 26, an individual assisting the pilot on the apron noticed the emergence of fire beneath the aircraft.
Upon noticing the flames, the ground personnel immediately alerted the pilot, instructing them to abort the engine start and shut off the fuel supply. The ground crew successfully extinguished the incipient fire using a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher located on the ramp. There were no injuries to the pilot or ground personnel, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
This desk investigation was conducted following a visual inspection performed by certified maintenance personnel. The inspection of the aircraft's underside and engine compartment revealed no structural or mechanical damage. While the investigation reviewed the sequence of events, the specific origin of the fire could not be definitively established.