# Incident 20250202003619I: Piper PA-28-180, Raleigh, NC, February 2, 2025

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 2, 2025, 10:30 local time
- Place: Raleigh, NC
- Airport: Raleigh-Durham International
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: 5FGS
- Location: 35.8776° N, 78.7875° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL (RDU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8776&lon=-78.7875&mi=10
- Aircraft: N15246, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15246) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 928 total, 136 in this make and model, 155 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250202003619I

## Narrative

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

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.

- [Incident 19980323012219I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980323012219I), Mar 23, 1998: Piper PA28180 (N15246), Smithfield, NC, Minor damage. Narrative: pilot landed hard on runway causing nose gear to fail. Aircraft skidded off runway into grass, damaging lower cowling and propeller. Airman was…

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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