What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
04/04/2024 At 1256 CDT a Learjet 45 s/n 054 privacy data omitted. Had a starter electrical fire on engine 1 after several attempted engine starts at airport kict on the ramp in front of privacy data omitted. privacy data omitted Personnel said that the crew attempted to start the aircraft 5-7 times without an engine light off.
On scene investigation:
An on-scene investigation was conducted on 04/04/2025 at 1415 CDT. Upon arrival privacy data omitted a lear 45 was on the ramp with the lower left engine cowling removed. There was a small amount of burnt components on the surface of the ramp.
Upon review of the engine nacelle the fire appears to be electrical related to the main power cables to the starter generator, and small wiring near the starter generator. An electrical boot cover for the power wires was not found but may have been consumed by the fire.
In the flight deck there was no electrical power as the main batteries had been disconnected post fire. FAA inspectors found that the left engine fire switch had been depressed. It is also noted that it appears that some type of liquid (soda, pop, cola) was spilled on the switch panel area that the starter switch and fire switch are located. The pilot in command (PIC) stated that the starter switch/button was sticking. No other anomalies were noted in the cabin. The aircraft was placarded with aircraft condition notice FAA form 8620-1 by FAA inspector olson.
In-office investigation:
The pilot and first-class officer emailed their statements on the event. Post event, the maintenance personnel determined that the liquid stuck the switch in the start position, thus causing the engine motoring event. Maintenance replaced the starter/generator, alternator, main power cable harness, engine wiring harness, and associated items. The fuel control switch panel unit assembly that houses the starter switch was changed out for a renewed assembly. The operational ground run was satisfactory. Form 8620-1 was removed by FAA inspector privacy data omitted.
Upon reviewing the facts and data, FAA inspector privacy data omitted reviewed the nine FAA areas of responsibility and determined that this is an isolated incident.
It is inspector privacy data omitted recommendation, liquid beverages, such as soda or other soft drinks, should be secured to prevent spills. If appropriate provisions for securing drinks are not available in the cockpit, beverages should be kept out entirely to avoid the risk of damaging sensitive electrical components, including switches and avionics.
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As the FAA filed it
04/04/2024 AT 1256 CDT A LEARJET 45 S/N 054 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. HAD A STARTER ELECTRICAL FIRE ON ENGINE 1 AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTED ENGINE STARTS AT AIRPORT KICT ON THE RAMP IN FRONT OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PERSONNEL SAID THAT THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO START THE AIRCRAFT 5-7 TIMES WITHOUT AN ENGINE LIGHT OFF.
ON SCENE INVESTIGATION:
AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED ON 04/04/2025 AT 1415 CDT. UPON ARRIVAL ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A LEAR 45 WAS ON THE RAMP WITH THE LOWER LEFT ENGINE COWLING REMOVED. THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF BURNT COMPONENTS ON THE SURFACE OF THE RAMP.
UPON REVIEW OF THE ENGINE NACELLE THE FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL RELATED TO THE MAIN POWER CABLES TO THE STARTER GENERATOR, AND SMALL WIRING NEAR THE STARTER GENERATOR. AN ELECTRICAL BOOT COVER FOR THE POWER WIRES WAS NOT FOUND BUT MAY HAVE BEEN CONSUMED BY THE FIRE.
IN THE FLIGHT DECK THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL POWER AS THE MAIN BATTERIES HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED POST FIRE. FAA INSPECTORS FOUND THAT THE LEFT ENGINE FIRE SWITCH HAD BEEN DEPRESSED. IT IS ALSO NOTED THAT IT APPEARS THAT SOME TYPE OF LIQUID (SODA, POP, COLA) WAS SPILLED ON THE SWITCH PANEL AREA THAT THE STARTER SWITCH AND FIRE SWITCH ARE LOCATED. THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) STATED THAT THE STARTER SWITCH/BUTTON WAS STICKING. NO OTHER ANOMALIES WERE NOTED IN THE CABIN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PLACARDED WITH AIRCRAFT CONDITION NOTICE FAA FORM 8620-1 BY FAA INSPECTOR OLSON.
IN-OFFICE INVESTIGATION:
THE PILOT AND FIRST-CLASS OFFICER EMAILED THEIR STATEMENTS ON THE EVENT. POST EVENT, THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL DETERMINED THAT THE LIQUID STUCK THE SWITCH IN THE START POSITION, THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE MOTORING EVENT. MAINTENANCE REPLACED THE STARTER/GENERATOR, ALTERNATOR, MAIN POWER CABLE HARNESS, ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, AND ASSOCIATED ITEMS. THE FUEL CONTROL SWITCH PANEL UNIT ASSEMBLY THAT HOUSES THE STARTER SWITCH WAS CHANGED OUT FOR A RENEWED ASSEMBLY. THE OPERATIONAL GROUND RUN WAS SATISFACTORY. FORM 8620-1 WAS REMOVED BY FAA INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.
UPON REVIEWING THE FACTS AND DATA, FAA INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REVIEWED THE NINE FAA AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DETERMINED THAT THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
IT IS INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ RECOMMENDATION, LIQUID BEVERAGES, SUCH AS SODA OR OTHER SOFT DRINKS, SHOULD BE SECURED TO PREVENT SPILLS. IF APPROPRIATE PROVISIONS FOR SECURING DRINKS ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE COCKPIT, BEVERAGES SHOULD BE KEPT OUT ENTIRELY TO AVOID THE RISK OF DAMAGING SENSITIVE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING SWITCHES AND AVIONICS.
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