Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 162; Flight Crew Total 1100
Troubleshooting; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Evacuated
Aircraft; Human Factors
This was an engine fire that occurred after a hot start attempt. We tried to start the plane normally with the fuel pump; and then attempted again without the fuel pump. After the first attempt we decided to let the starter cool down for 20 seconds and cranked for another 10 seconds with the mixture lean and the throttle half way as the hot start [procedure] said. The engine almost started so we decided to pump the throttle. We let the plane rest; but soon after; the engine started smoking and we rushed out of the plane; cut off the mixture; and got the closest fire extinguisher to extinguish the flame. We should not have pumped the throttle as this could have been the cause of the engine fire; especially with a hot engine.
Upon attempting to start the aircraft; we went through the normal before engine start checklist and cranked the engine; it almost started but did not. We then tried the flooded start procedure with full lean mixture and full throttle. The aircraft still sputtered but did not start. We then turned off the electric fuel pump and waited 20 seconds for the starter to cool down. Then we tried once more with no start and still the flooded start procedure. After that we decided to let the started cool off for longer and turned off the battery master to save battery charge. Shortly after turning off the electrical switches we noticed smoke coming out from under the cowling. We set the mixture to full lean and vacated the aircraft; confirmed the presence of flames under the cowling; retrieved a fire extinguisher and put out the fire
PA-28 Instructor Pilot and Student reported evacuating the aircraft on the ramp when they experienced and engine fire following multiple start attempts.