Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI86FEX04

FORT WAYNE, IN, USA

Aircraft #1

N46L

BEECH E18S

Analysis

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A RIGHT ENG FIRE DURING ENG START. THE PLT REPORTED THE RIGHT ENG WOULD NOT START DURING THE FIRST ATTEMPT. DURING THE SECOND ATTEMPT AT STARTING THE ENG, IT STARTED. WHILE RUNNING THE ENG ON THE PRIMER, THE PLT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENG. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RUN THE ENG TO DRAW THE FLAMES INTO THE INTAKE, HOWEVER, THIS FAILED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE PLT SECURED THE ACFT AND EVACUATED. THE FIRE WAS THEN COMPLETELY ENTINGUISHED BY THE ARPT FIRE DEPT. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE RIGHT ENG CARB FLOAT ASSEMBLY WAS CRACKED ALLOWING THE FLOAT TO SINK. WHEN THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS USED FOR STARTING THE ENG THE FUEL WAS ALLOWED TO FLOW THROUGH THE CARB INTO THE INTAKE SCOOP AND ONTO THE ACFT AND GROUND BELOW THE ACFT. THE ENG BACKFIRE, HEARD BY THE PLT, THEN IGNITED THE FUEL.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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