20091218052499I

At 1500 feet AGL during a maintenance check flight 4 miles west of Apopka, Florida, the pilot noted a reduction in his fuel flow indication on one engine followed by blue fuel stains coming from the left engine cowl followed by fire coming from the vent on the top of the left engine cowl. He reported that he had his hand on the mixture control and when he saw the fire he shut down the engine. The event lasted about 10 seconds. Damage consisted of blistered paint inside the top left engine cowl and discoloration of the paint aft of the top inboard cowl vent. Investigation revealed that the o-ring seal on the forward end of the fuel flow transmitter had become brittle and allowed fuel to escape while under pressure. The fuel flow transmitter was last overhauled 4/20/98.the engine had been overhauled 18.4 hours previously, but the fuel flow transmitter was not overhauled at that time. The aircraft had undergone an annual inspection on 6/30/09 and this was the first flight since that inspection. A fuel pressure check of the right engine revealed that the fuel flow transmitter was also leaking on the right engine, though not as badly. The transmitter part number was 9133-54-B1 manufactured by ragen data systems to TSO C44A for Beechcraft.