What happened
On 13 May 2003, a PIPER PA32R-301, registration ZS-NVB, arrived at FAKU (Kuruman) following a private flight from Krugersdorp. After the two passengers had exited the aircraft, the pilot attempted to restart the engine to begin the return journey. During this restart attempt, white smoke was observed emerging from the engine compartment.
The pilot immediately shut down the engine and attempted to suppress the flames using both the onboard fire extinguisher and an extinguisher provided by the aerodrome. While the pilot was unsuccessful in containing the blaze, the local fire brigade arrived shortly thereafter and managed to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries reported during the incident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the origin of the fire and the extent of the damage. The aircraft suffered significant fire damage, specifically concentrated within the engine compartment, the instrument panel, and the nose baggage section. Meteorological conditions at the time of the event were reported as fine.
Records indicated that the pilot held a valid commercial license and medical certificate, with appropriate ratings for the aircraft type. Furthermore, maintenance records for the aircraft were found to be in order.
Findings
Investigators identified a structural vulnerability that facilitated the spread of the fire. A gap of approximately one inch existed between the firewall and the outer skin of the nose baggage section, which functioned like a chimney. This gap allowed the fire to migrate from the engine compartment into the nose baggage area.
It was determined that the insulation material lining the nose baggage compartment caught fire. Crucially, the design of the firewall and the bulkhead provided insufficient protection to prevent smoke and flames from moving from the engine area, through the baggage compartment, and into the aircraft cabin.