SMA PLT HAS FIRE IN ENG AREA WHILE ATTEMPTING START UP. EXTINGUISHES; THEN FLIES ACFT.

Narrative

THIS MORNING I ARRIVED AT WORK FOR AN INTRODUCTORY FLT. THE PLANE THAT I WAS SCHEDULED TO FLY HAD FROST ON THE WINGS AND TAIL SURFACES; WHICH I REMOVED WITH DEICER FLUID. THE TEMP WAS IN THE TEENS AND AFTER THE PREFLT WE USED A STARTING TECHNIQUE WHICH I HAVE FOUND TO WORK SUCCESSFULLY ON COLD MORNINGS. I PRIME THE ENG WITH 2 STROKES OF PRIMER; PULL THE PROP THROUGH 10-15 BLADES; PRIME THE ENG WITH 2 OR 3 ADDITIONAL STROKES OF PRIMER; AND CRANK THE ENG WITH THE MIXTURE AT IDLE CUT-OFF AND THROTTLE FULL OPEN. AGAIN; THE ENG STARTED IMMEDIATELY; BUT SOON DIED. I PRIMED THE ENG AGAIN WITH 2 STROKES OF PRIMER. I PULLED THE PRIMER OUT TO USE IF THE ENG AGAIN STARTED TO DIE. MY PAX; TRYING TO HELP; PUSHED THE PRIMER IN. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENG UNSUCCESSFULLY. I DECIDED TO WAIT A FEW MINS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANOTHER RESTART. WHILE WAITING I NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE ENG COMPARTMENT. I ATTEMPTED ANOTHER ENG START AND WHEN THAT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL I HAD MY PAX GET OUT OF THE PLANE AND I GOT THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM BEHIND THE SEAT. THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE AT THE AIR INTAKE WHICH I EXTINGUISHED. I THEN REMOVED THE COWLING TO INSPECT FOR DAMAGE. AFTER NOTING NO DAMAGE WHICH I CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT I STARTED THE ENG; RAN IT UP AND CONTINUED TO FLY THE MISSION. POST-FLT INSPECTION AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CHIEF INSTRUCTOR AND MECH REVEALED THAT THE AIR FILTER HAD BURNED AND PRESENTED A POTENTIAL FOREIGN OBJECT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DRAWN INTO THE CARB. THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL; HOWEVER; THE POTENTIAL EXISTED FOR PROBLEMS TO DEVELOP. A BUSY SCHEDULE; FROST ON OTHER ACFT AND POOR STARTING PROCS/PERFORMANCE FOR COLD WX WERE ALL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.