# Accident 20090316003979A: Piper PA28161, Orlando, FL, March 16, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 16, 2009, 21:25 local time
- Place: Orlando, FL
- Airport: Orlando Sanford International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Location: 28.7767° N, 81.2356° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7767&lon=-81.2356&mi=10
- Aircraft: N613FT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N613FT-2009-05-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28161
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,068 total, 797 in this make and model, 82 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA201) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090316003979A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AFTER LANDING ON RUNWAY 27R, AT KSFB, IN SANFORD, FLORIDA.  THE PILOT TRIED TO RESTART THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE TWICE, WHILE ON RUNWAY 27R.  AFTER ALLOWING APPROXIMATELY 20 SECONDS FOR THE STARTER TO COOL THE PILOT NOTICED SMOKE FOLLOWED BY FLAMES.  THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE HALON FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN HAND, BUT THE EXTINGUISHER WAS INOPERATIVE.  THE PILOT ALSO NOTICED A STEADY STREAM OF FUEL POURING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE COWLING, AS THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT REVEALED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE ENGINE, ITS ACCESSORIES, MOUNT, HARDWARE, COWLINGS AND FIRE WALL HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY THE HEAT AND FIRE.  THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED NEAR THE AIR BOX ON THE BOTTOM LEFT OF THE ENGINE AND IGNITED THE FUEL THAT HAD OVER FLOWED INTO AIR BOX.  CONSEQUENTLY, THE AIR BOX APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN BLOWN APART FROM THE INSIDE OUT, AS IF IT WAS FULL OF FUEL WHEN IT IGNITED.  THE FIRE THEN SPREAD TO COVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING INTENSE HEAT AND FIRE DAMAGE THROUGH OUT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA09LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA201), Mar 17, 2009: Piper PA-28-161 (N613FT), Sanford, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An engine air induction explosion for an undetermined reason during repeated engine start attempts.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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