# NTSB ERA23LA118: Piper PA28, N747PK, Raleigh/Durham, NC, January 23, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 23, 2023, 18:44 local (23:44 UTC)
- Place: Raleigh/Durham, NC
- Coordinates: 35.877639, -78.787472 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8776&lon=-78.7875&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106640
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106640/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106640
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA118

## Probable cause

The pilot's flooding the engine with fuel during a cold engine start, which resulted in an engine fire.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Engine fuel and control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot and his passenger prepared for a night flight in the flying club’s airplane to maintain the pilot’s currency. He tried to start the engine three times, priming the engine a total of 11 times, and “pumping” the throttle during one attempt, but it did not start. Concerned that he may have flooded the engine, he waited 5 minutes before attempting another start with full throttle and mixture at idle/cutoff. After this attempt, the passenger noted smoke and he realized that the engine was on fire. He told his passenger to egress and attempted to extinguish the fire with the onboard fire extinguisher; however, the fire substantially damaged the airplane’s the fuselage, engine mounts, and firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Pilot’s Operating Handbook for the airplane suggested priming 1 to 3 times before engine start.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N747PK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N747PK-2024-05-04), registration cancelled 2024-05-04, S/N 28-4647, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (180)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-4647
- Year built: 1968
- Airframe hours: 6174.8
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Raleigh Flying Club LLC
- Registered owner: Raleigh Flying Club LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 27, 2022, 71.5 hours before
- Destination: HNZ, Oxford, NC
- Airport: RDU, Raleigh-Durham Intl
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 26, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 224 total, 48 in this make and model, 159 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: RDU, 1 nm away
- METAR: METAR KRDU 232351Z 31008KT 270V340 10SM FEW060 FEW070 07/M04 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP201 T00721044 10111 20072 52041=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20230123000489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230123000489A), Jan 23, 2023: Piper PA-28-180, Raleigh, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice night landings in the pattern with his fiance. After a thorough preflight the pilot: · Primed…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106640. 7.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15060104&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA118%206120%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (operator) (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15061685&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15060335&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA188%20ROC%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- POH excerpts (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15058931&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf
- Flying club checklist (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15059971&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N747PK%20Normal%20Checklist%20from%20Raleigh%20Flighing%20Club-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 673 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15060624&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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