What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot heard a "pop" and change of engine tone during departure climb. Suspecting an exhaust system failure, he immediately returned and landed. Upon landing, nose gear partially collapsed allowing propeller to strike runway surface. Exiting aircraft, pilot saw smoke emanating from engine compartment. Ground personnel rushed to aircraft and extinguished fire in engine compartment. Fire had partially consumed nose gear shock absorber causing propeller strike. Post incident inspection revealed loose fitting on fuel line into fuel flow transmitter resulting in a significant fuel leak under boost pump pressure. Additionally, section of cylinder fuel drain line on right side of engine was missing.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT HEARD A "POP" AND CHANGE OF ENGINE TONE DURING DEPARTURE CLIMB. SUSPECTING AN EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURE, HE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED AND LANDED. UPON LANDING, NOSE GEAR PARTIALLY COLLAPSED ALLOWING PROPELLER TO STRIKE RUNWAY SURFACE. EXITING AIRCRAFT, PILOT SAW SMOKE EMANATING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GROUND PERSONNEL RUSHED TO AIRCRAFT AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE HAD PARTIALLY CONSUMED NOSE GEAR SHOCK ABSORBER CAUSING PROPELLER STRIKE. POST INCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED LOOSE FITTING ON FUEL LINE INTO FUEL FLOW TRANSMITTER RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT FUEL LEAK UNDER BOOST PUMP PRESSURE. ADDITIONALLY, SECTION OF CYLINDER FUEL DRAIN LINE ON RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE WAS MISSING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.