19981230044639I

Shortly after takeoff from the airport at an altitude of about 1000 feet,the pilot started a right crosswind turm. After rollout on crosswind, less than 1/4 mile from the airport with all cockpit indications normal the pilot and his one passenger started detecting a burning order. Immediate check of both circuit bradker panels revealed no popped breakers. Within seconds the pilot noticed the loss of fuel pressure, contacted Chino tower, that he was declaring emergency and returning for landing. The pilot now noticed the loss of oil pressure, fire on the left side of the aircraft being wind blown from the engine compartment and smoke started to become heavy in the cockpit. He immediately shut off fuel to the engine, shut down the engine, adn disconnected all electrical. With the fire continuing to burn, forward visibility deteriorating rapidly and having to dead stick the aircraft,the pilot managed a successfull landing. The pilot stated that he noticed that just before touchdown he had no indication of altitude,airspeed or vertical speed. The pilot stated that once on the ground, when the aircraft came to a complete stop he and his passenger made a quick check of everything and imnexited the aircraft. Once out of the aircraft the pilot went around to the left front side and found that the fire had melted a hole in the side of the fuselage just aft of the engine firewall, which allowed the flames and severe heat to enter in behind the instrument panel and cause damage to all wiring, plumbing, instruments and the windscreen. The left upper corner of the engine firewall, engine compartment, and engine inner cowling sustained minor damage. The aircraft interior sustained smoke damage. There were no injuries to the pilot or his passenger.