PA28 PVT PLT WAS HAVING PROBS STARTING THE ENG AT MLB; TMB; AND PBI. AFTER REFUELING COULD NOT GET THE ENG TO START AFTER 2 ATTEMPTS. NOTED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENG COMPARTMENT AND ELECTED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND EVAC THE ACFT.

Narrative

THE MORNING WHEN I FIRST TRIED TO START THE PLANE IT WAS RATHER DIFFICULT. I HAD TO TRY 3 TIMES; BUT ONCE IT STARTED; THE ENG WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. I WENT THROUGH THE RUNUP; AND ALL INSTS CHKED OUT; AND THE ENG SOUNDED FINE. I CONTINUED MY XCOUNTRY TO PHK; DID A TOUCH-AND-GO; AND WENT TO TMB. AT TMB; I TAXIED TO FBO; STAYED ABOUT 20 MINS AND GOT READY TO LEAVE. THIS TIME I HAD TO TRY TWICE TO START THE ENG. I MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO TELL DISPATCH ABOUT THE STARTING DIFFICULTY (FOR REF PURPOSES). AT TMB THE RUNUP WAS ALRIGHT; AND I DEPARTED FOR PBI. AT PBI; I MADE A FULL STOP TO GET FUEL AT FBO. AFTER PAYING FOR THE FUEL; I WENT BACK OUT TO THE PLANE TO DEPART FOR MLB. I AGAIN HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE PLANE. THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO START IT; I PRIMED 3 TIMES AND TRIED TO ENGAGE THE STARTER. AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND THE ENG DIDN'T START; I TURNED THE MAGNETOS OFF; PRIMED TWICE AND TRIED AGAIN. THE ENG STILL WOULD NOT START; AND I MOVED THE THROTTLE ONCE. I LATER SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE; SO I TURNED EVERYTHING OFF AND EVACED THE PLANE.