# Incident 20131031021479I: Cessna 152, Livermore, CA, October 31, 2013

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 31, 2013, 08:48 local time
- Place: Livermore, CA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6870° N, 121.7598° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Livermore, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6870&lon=-121.7598&mi=10
- Aircraft: N757JX, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N757JX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 9,300 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131031021479I

## Narrative

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

ON 10/31/2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:35 AM AIRCRAFT N757JX, A CESSNA 152, EXPERIENCED AN INDUCTION FIRE DURING START-UP.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT AND WITH ASSISTANCE FROM GROUND PERSONNEL EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE INDUCTION AIR FILTER AND SUBJECTED THE CARBURETOR TO EXTREME HEAT.

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WITH A STUDENT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, ATTEMPTED TO START THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO FLIGHT. DURING THE START-UP PROCEDURES THE INSTRUCTOR DIRECTED THE STUDENT TO PRIME THE ENGINE WITH FUEL UTILIZING THE ACCELERATOR PUMP IN THE CARBURETOR INSTEAD OF THE FACTORY INSTALLED PRIMER SYSTEM. THIS PROCEDURE IS CONTRARY TO THE PILOT?S OPERATING HANDBOOK. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED HE ?TOLD [AIRMAN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^] TO DEFER THE USE OF PRIMER AND MERELY OPEN AND CLOSE THE THROTTLE TWO TIMES WHICH I FELT FROM EXPERIENCE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO START THE ENGINE.? THIS PROCEDURE REQUIRES ACTUATING THE ENGINE THROTTLE; IN THIS EVENT THE THROTTLE WAS ACTUATED TWICE PRIOR TO START-UP. THE DESIGN OF A LYCOMIMNG 0-235 ENGINE, INCORPORATES AN UP-DRAFT CARBURETOR WITH AN ACCELERATOR PUMP. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PUMP IS ACTUATED IT SPRAYS FUEL OUT OF THE CARBURETOR INTO THE INDUCTION. IF THE ENGINE IS NOT TURNING THE FUEL CAN, AND IN THIS CASE DID, DRAIN BACK DOWN THROUGH THE CARBURETOR AND INTO THE CARBURETOR AIRBOX. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL INSPECTED THE ENGINE AFTER THE FIRE AND DISCOVERED THE IGNITION TIMING WAS ADVANCED BY 2 DEGREES. THIS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FIRE BY PRODUCING A SPARK WHILE THE INTAKE VALVE WAS OPEN, THUS IGNITING THE FUEL IN THE INDUCTION.

## Other reports on N757JX (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19780924029559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780924029559A), Sep 24, 1978: Cessna A150K (N757JX), Bedford, MA, Substantial damage

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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