# NTSB SEA01LA112: Cessna 150F, N546M, Arlington, WA, June 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 3, 2001, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Arlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.180107, -121.669456 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1801&lon=-121.6695&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52415 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52415/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA112 ## Probable cause A fire that originated in the aircraft's carburetor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, standing - starting engine(s) - fuel system,carburetor - fire (cause) ## Analysis During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board on June 5, the commercial pilot stated that when he attempted to start (first start of the day) the airplane's engine, "it started briefly and died." The pilot re-primed the engine and attempted another start without success. The pilot again primed the engine (for the third time) and engaged the starter. He reported that shortly after engaging the starter, smoke started coming from the engine compartment. He pulled the mixture and continued to crank the engine, however, the smoke continued. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane. Shortly after exiting the airplane, fire erupted in the cockpit and engine compartment. Post accident inspection of the airplane by personnel from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the primer line to the intake manifold was cracked, but still attached to the manifold. The ignition source for the fire could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 2001, about 1530 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N546M, sustained substantial damage subsequent to an engine fire during starting procedures at the Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington. The airplane is registered to the pilot, who planned to operate the airplane as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. The certified commercial pilot, and the one passenger aboard the airplane were not injured. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Board on June 5, the commercial pilot stated that when he attempted to start (first start of the day) the airplane's engine, "it started briefly and died." The pilot re-primed the engine and attempted another start without success. The pilot again primed the engine (for the third time) and engaged the starter. He reported that shortly after engaging the starter, smoke started coming from the engine compartment. He pulled the mixture and continued to crank the engine, however, the smoke continued. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane. Shortly after exiting the airplane, fire erupted in the cockpit and engine compartment. Minutes later, personnel from the fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. Post accident inspection of the airplane by personnel from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the primer line to the intake manifold was cracked, but still attached to the manifold. The ignition source for the fire could not be determined. . ## Aircraft - Registration: [N546M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N546M-2015-05-08), registration cancelled 2015-05-08, S/N 15063137 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150F - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15063137 - Airframe hours: 6078 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James E. Powers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 2001, 25 hours before - Departed: AWO, Arlington, WA - Destination: AWO, Arlington, WA - Airport: AWO, Arlington Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 1, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 1,025 total, 400 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: AWO ## 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 20010603014639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010603014639A), Jun 3, 2001: Cessna 150F, Arlington, WA, No damage. (-23) See narrative #SEA01LA112 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.