Cessna 150
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 285; Flight Crew Type 3
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
On initial climb; started smelling an electrical fire smell. About 5 seconds later; at about 500 feet AGL; saw smoke coming into the cockpit through the vent on the dash. I turned immediately; called an emergency; and tear-dropped with power in to land on the opposite runway I had just taken off from. Once I saw I was high enough to glide in; I pulled power to idle and lowered the nose to try and put the fire out. I decided to leave the engine running as I was over a congested area with housing tracts below; and decided it would be more dangerous to try and make an emergency landing off airport than to leave engine on and fly back to airport as I was only maybe half a mile away. The smoke dissipated by the time I landed; and I taxied quickly back to the terminal where I shut down and exited the aircraft. Upon investigation and talking to the mechanics who inspected the aircraft; it turned out the muffler's back end had blown off; directing all the extremely hot exhaust gases towards the firewall; where the battery and other electrical components were; which was what started the fire. According to the mechanics; when the aircraft was bought the pre-buy inspection did not inspect the muffler well enough as there would have been cracks in the muffler; indicating a potentiality for a malfunction. I felt that my training really prepared me to deal with this emergency in a timely and professional manner. The only things I can really think of that I should improve upon was my radio communications; I spent too much time (thinking after the fact) on radio calls when I could have just said 'mayday mayday; emergency landing.' But the fact that my IMSAFE checklist was good; and both individuals in the aircraft were aware of emergency procedures; made this an invaluable learning experience. Also; checking the muffler is highly important!
C152 pilot reports smelling electrical fumes shortly after takeoff then seeing smoke coming into the cockpit through the vent on the dash. An emergency is declared and a tear drop turn is made back to land opposite direction on the departure runway. Maintenance discovers a failed muffler blowing hot exhaust on the firewall.