What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Shortly after startup and initial taxi in a non-movement area of an uncontrolled field, pilot noticed burning smell and turned aircraft to determine source of smell, thinking it may have been from a nearby hangar. When the smell did not dissipate, pilot elected to shutdown aircraft. At that time, he also noted smoke and flames emitting from the engine compartment, which subsequently caused substantial damage to the aircraft before the fire was extinguished.
As the FAA filed it
SHORTLY AFTER STARTUP AND INITIAL TAXI IN A NON-MOVEMENT AREA OF AN UNCONTROLLED FIELD, PILOT NOTICED BURNING SMELL AND TURNED AIRCRAFT TO DETERMINE SOURCE OF SMELL, THINKING IT MAY HAVE BEEN FROM A NEARBY HANGAR. WHEN THE SMELL DID NOT DISSIPATE, PILOT ELECTED TO SHUTDOWN AIRCRAFT. AT THAT TIME, HE ALSO NOTED SMOKE AND FLAMES EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.