PLT OF PIPER WARRIOR EXPERIENCES ENG COMPARTMENT FIRE ON START UP.

Narrative

DURING ENG START; ENG BACKFIRED AND FLAME RESULTED. FLAME WAS EASILY SEEN IN NEAR DARKNESS. UPON SEEING FLAME; I CUT MIXTURE AND CONTINUED CRANKING ENG PER CHKLIST. FIRE SEEMED TO BE OUT. ALSO TURNED GAS OFF. AS I EXITED THE ACFT TO INSPECT ENG COMPARTMENT; THICK BLACK SMOKE BILLOWED OUT OF ENG COMPARTMENT. I OPENED COWLING AND OBSERVED FIRE UNDER ENG NEAR CARB. I WENT INTO CABIN TO FIND EXTINGUISHER AND IT WAS NOT WHERE I EXPECTED IT TO BE. I LOOKED THROUGH BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT AND DID NOT FIND THE EXTINGUISHER. BY THIS TIME THE SMOKE WAS QUITE THICK AND I FELT IT WAS BEST TO GET AWAY FROM THE PLANE AND SUMMON HELP. THE BAGS WERE LEFT IN THE PLANE; AND I COULD HAVE GOTTEN AN EXTINGUISHER OUT OF THE HANGAR; BUT DID NOT FEEL I SHOULD ENTER THE PLANE AGAIN. THE FIRE CREW WAS THERE IN ABOUT 5 MINS; AND PROMPTLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE DAMAGE UPON INSPECTION WAS NOT NEARLY AS BAD AS IT LOOKED. THE REASON I AM WRITING THIS IS TO ENCOURAGE AN ADDITION TO CHKLIST TO FIND THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER BEFORE ENG START. IT WILL BE SOMETHING I ADD TO MY PERSONAL CHKLIST IN THE FUTURE.