What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During the first instructional flight of the day a cold start was performed. The first two attempts were conducted by the student pilot, in which the aircraft did not start. Finally, on the third attempted the instructor elected to perform a “flooded start” with same results. After the third attempt, the instructor noticed smoke coming from the cowling. The instructor initiated the shut down, but did not formally use the checklist and advised the student to evacuate the aircraft for safety. Once out of the aircraft the instructor called maintenance personnel for assistance but was unable to receive a response. She then called the chief instructor to advise him of the situation. The student saw a flame in the cowl, retrieved the fire extinguisher and extinguished the fire. Shortly after Raleigh/Durham airport operation arrived as well as the flight school maintenance personnel to secure the area for any hazards.
As the FAA filed it
DURING THE FIRST INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT OF THE DAY A COLD START WAS PERFORMED. THE FIRST TWO ATTEMPTS WERE CONDUCTED BY THE STUDENT PILOT, IN WHICH THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT START. FINALLY, ON THE THIRD ATTEMPTED THE INSTRUCTOR ELECTED TO PERFORM A “FLOODED START” WITH SAME RESULTS. AFTER THE THIRD ATTEMPT, THE INSTRUCTOR NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE COWLING. THE INSTRUCTOR INITIATED THE SHUT DOWN, BUT DID NOT FORMALLY USE THE CHECKLIST AND ADVISED THE STUDENT TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT FOR SAFETY. ONCE OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT THE INSTRUCTOR CALLED MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FOR ASSISTANCE BUT WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE. SHE THEN CALLED THE CHIEF INSTRUCTOR TO ADVISE HIM OF THE SITUATION. THE STUDENT SAW A FLAME IN THE COWL, RETRIEVED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. SHORTLY AFTER RALEIGH/DURHAM AIRPORT OPERATION ARRIVED AS WELL AS THE FLIGHT SCHOOL MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO SECURE THE AREA FOR ANY HAZARDS.
Other reports on N15246 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.