What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The following was taken from the pilot statement on NTSB form 6120.1:
Engine hobb start time recorded at the hanger at 1018.8 hours
1:18PM local time per picture time/date
A local flight was intended under VFR weather. Normal taxi to runway 18, holding in place for engine runup checks. Following the checklist, I checked the magnetos, I discovered one was not working correctly, the other was normal. I decided to return to the hanger,
After a radio call advising the local airport traffice of my intention, I entered runway 18 and started to taxi down the runway.
About halfway down the runway, I smelled burned wire insulation, no smoke was noticed inside the cockpit.
As I slowed to make the right turn onto A1 taxiway, the engine died. The first attempt to restart, I heard a click of the starter etc..
Two other attempts with the starter switch resulted in no engine start action heard.
After entering A1, on the last engine start attempt, I looked over my right shoulder and saw flames over the wing refuel cap. I immediately exited the cockpit, ran to the FBO office and requested FBO employee to call the fire dept, that my aircraft was on fire on A1 taxiway.
As the FAA filed it
THE FOLLOWING WAS TAKEN FROM THE PILOT STATEMENT ON NTSB FORM 6120.1:
ENGINE HOBB START TIME RECORDED AT THE HANGER AT 1018.8 HOURS
1:18PM LOCAL TIME PER PICTURE TIME/DATE
A LOCAL FLIGHT WAS INTENDED UNDER VFR WEATHER. NORMAL TAXI TO RUNWAY 18, HOLDING IN PLACE FOR ENGINE RUNUP CHECKS. FOLLOWING THE CHECKLIST, I CHECKED THE MAGNETOS, I DISCOVERED ONE WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, THE OTHER WAS NORMAL. I DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE HANGER,
AFTER A RADIO CALL ADVISING THE LOCAL AIRPORT TRAFFICE OF MY INTENTION, I ENTERED RUNWAY 18 AND STARTED TO TAXI DOWN THE RUNWAY.
ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, I SMELLED BURNED WIRE INSULATION, NO SMOKE WAS NOTICED INSIDE THE COCKPIT.
AS I SLOWED TO MAKE THE RIGHT TURN ONTO A1 TAXIWAY, THE ENGINE DIED. THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO RESTART, I HEARD A CLICK OF THE STARTER ETC..
TWO OTHER ATTEMPTS WITH THE STARTER SWITCH RESULTED IN NO ENGINE START ACTION HEARD.
AFTER ENTERING A1, ON THE LAST ENGINE START ATTEMPT, I LOOKED OVER MY RIGHT SHOULDER AND SAW FLAMES OVER THE WING REFUEL CAP. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE COCKPIT, RAN TO THE FBO OFFICE AND REQUESTED FBO EMPLOYEE TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT, THAT MY AIRCRAFT WAS ON FIRE ON A1 TAXIWAY.
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 N88LE · 1
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