What happened
On 4 February 2012, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, registration G-BOFZ, was prepared for a training flight at Newcastle Airport. During the initial stages of the flight, the pilot attempted to start the Lycoming O-320-D3G engine. To prepare the engine for ignition, the pilot operated the fuel primer five times. Following this, the starter was engaged three times.
During this start-up sequence, the pilot observed smoke emerging from the engine area. Recognizing the potential danger, the pilot immediately ordered an evacuation of the aircraft. All four occupants—the pilot and three passengers—exited the aircraft safely without injury.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the ignition of fire in the engine compartment. The pilot reported that the engine required priming due to the cold ambient temperature of 1°C. The investigation examined the sequence of priming and starting attempts to determine if the fuel-to-air ratio contributed to the incident.
Findings
- The engine fire was likely caused by excess fuel accumulation in the exhaust.
- The pilot's decision to prime the engine five times, followed by multiple starter attempts, may have led to an over-primed state.
- The fire resulted in damage to the nose section of the aircraft.
- There were no injuries to the crew or passengers during the evacuation.