Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 26; Flight Crew Total 272; Flight Crew Type 23
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Evacuated
Aircraft
Regarding the fire incident this morning with Aircraft X at ZZZ; here are the facts. I was with my instructor. I was told Aircraft X was out of maintenance and assigned to me. Did the pre-flight and everything seemed normal. Pre-flight and final walk around was checked by [Instructor]. The plan for this lesson was to practice landings. We taxi to Runway XXR; did the run up; after it; we were cleared for takeoff to do a close traffic. Took off; did the first pattern and landed. Exit Runway XXR at Taxiway X. Then I requested Ground Control taxi back to Runway XXR. When we were holding short Runway XXR at Taxiway B; I was doing pre-takeoff checklist when I noticed smoke coming from the right engine cowling. Then the first thing I did was kill the right mixture. My instructor saw the smoke and we shut down everything; including fuel selectors; and electrical. We exited the aircraft and stayed away from it. Because it was a fire we acted quickly and couldn't advise ATC.
PA-34 student pilot reported encountering an engine fire while taxiing for takeoff; resulting in the student and instructor evacuating the aircraft.