What happened
On 13 April 2022, a Cessna 172M, registration ZS-SCE, operated by Eagle Air Flying School, was being prepared for a night training flight at Wonderboom Aerodrome in Gauteng. The flight was being conducted under Part 1 and Part 141 training regulations, with an instructor and a student pilot on board.
While the crew was performing pre-flight inspections and attempting to start the engine on the apron, the engine was cranked several times. Following the start-up attempt, a bystander noticed smoke and flames emerging from the lower engine compartment. The bystander alerted the crew, who immediately shut down the engine and evacuated the aircraft. Both occupants were unharmed. A fire extinguisher was deployed to suppress the flames, but the engine compartment sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
An investigation into the incident established that the fire caused significant damage to the nose engine cowlings, the spinner paint, and the landing light. Heat from the fire also damaged the gaskets, the plunger, and the air filter, as well as the front baffle rubbers on the carburetor heat box.
Upon inspection by an approved maintenance organization, the carburetor itself was found to be undamaged. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's maintenance records were current, and the aircraft had undergone a mandatory periodic inspection approximately 65 hours prior to the event. All necessary repairs, including the replacement of damaged components and a successful ground run, were completed following the incident.