SMA SEL CAUGHT FIRE WHEN PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENG AFTER PREFLT.

Narrative

ON MAY/THU/95; I FLEW FROM NORWOOD MUNICIPAL ARPT TO VINEYARD HAVEN ARPT AT MARTHA'S VINEYARD IN A RENTED PIPER PA28-161 (WARRIOR) MODEL AIRPLANE. I WAS ACCOMPANIED BY 2 PAX. AFTER A SHORT STAY AT THE GA TERMINAL AT VINEYARD HAVEN; WE RETURNED TO THE AIRPLANE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENG; I SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW FUMES RISE. I SECURED THE ENG AND IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE AIRPLANE. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE LOWER SIDE OF THE COWLING. I IMMEDIATELY SOUGHT HELP FROM THE ARPT'S OPS MGR; WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER HEARD WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN INVESTIGATED BY MAINT AND INSURANCE AGENTS. DEFINITELY SUSPECT THAT IT WAS FLOODED ENG FUEL FIRE ON START. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE DID NOT HEAR THE ENG START OR FIRE AT ALL DURING THE STARTING CRANKING PROCESS. THIS WOULD POSSIBLY EXPLAIN WHY THERE COULD HAVE BEEN RAW FUEL FLAMING OUT THE EXHAUST PIPE; LIGHTING THE FIRE. AFTER THE RPTR NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENG COWLING; HE SHUT OFF THE FUEL; IGNITIONS MAGS AND ALL ELECTRICAL AND DEPLANED. HE NOTICED THAT THE NOSEWHEEL STRUT AND TIRE WERE BURNING AND THAT THE TIRE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY BURNED UP!