What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 02/15/04 Piper PA-28-161, N80908 experienced an engine fire during start up. Inspection of engine and associated fuel lines revealed no anomalies. Interview with pilot cathy rezos revealed that she used an engine starting procedure that is not recommended by the aircraft manufacturer. She further stated that she was instructed to activate the electric fuel pump and pump the throttle 3 to 4 times to prime the engine, which is contrary to the manufacturer's published procedure. The priming method she used can cause overpriming which might have led to an engine backfire which ignited the residual fuel that would be trapped in engine cowling. Counseled pilot on the importance of following procedures that are recommended in the aircraft's operating handbook.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 02/15/04 PIPER PA-28-161, N80908 EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FIRE DURING START UP. INSPECTION OF ENGINE AND ASSOCIATED FUEL LINES REVEALED NO ANOMALIES. INTERVIEW WITH PILOT CATHY REZOS REVEALED THAT SHE USED AN ENGINE STARTING PROCEDURE THAT IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT SHE WAS INSTRUCTED TO ACTIVATE THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP AND PUMP THE THROTTLE 3 TO 4 TIMES TO PRIME THE ENGINE, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO THE MANUFACTURER'S PUBLISHED PROCEDURE. THE PRIMING METHOD SHE USED CAN CAUSE OVERPRIMING WHICH MIGHT HAVE LED TO AN ENGINE BACKFIRE WHICH IGNITED THE RESIDUAL FUEL THAT WOULD BE TRAPPED IN ENGINE COWLING. COUNSELED PILOT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING PROCEDURES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE AIRCRAFT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK.