What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On July 27, 2023 a part 61 flight school had a discovery flight scheduled in a Piper PA-28-180, and during the take off roll a fire was noted in the engine compartment and engine power was lost. The aircraft emergency checklist was performed and the aircraft was evacuated with no injuries to pilot or passenger. I arrived and began my investigation on July 28, 2023. Collected pictures and information as needed. Evidence of the starter electrical lead arcing on the fuel primer line was found and I believe this to be the ignition point for the fire. No clamps were noted on the starter electrical lead from the engine mount to the starter connection post. The ensuing fire burned hot enough to leave evidence of excessive heat damage to an engine mount tube, turning it orange.
As the FAA filed it
ON JULY 27, 2023 A PART 61 FLIGHT SCHOOL HAD A DISCOVERY FLIGHT SCHEDULED IN A PIPER PA-28-180, AND DURING THE TAKE OFF ROLL A FIRE WAS NOTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT EMERGENCY CHECKLIST WAS PERFORMED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS EVACUATED WITH NO INJURIES TO PILOT OR PASSENGER. I ARRIVED AND BEGAN MY INVESTIGATION ON JULY 28, 2023. COLLECTED PICTURES AND INFORMATION AS NEEDED. EVIDENCE OF THE STARTER ELECTRICAL LEAD ARCING ON THE FUEL PRIMER LINE WAS FOUND AND I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE IGNITION POINT FOR THE FIRE. NO CLAMPS WERE NOTED ON THE STARTER ELECTRICAL LEAD FROM THE ENGINE MOUNT TO THE STARTER CONNECTION POST. THE ENSUING FIRE BURNED HOT ENOUGH TO LEAVE EVIDENCE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT DAMAGE TO AN ENGINE MOUNT TUBE, TURNING IT ORANGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N15417 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.