What was found
WHILE FLYING PART OF THE EXHAUST PIPE ON THE PILOT SIDE SEPARATED FROM THE PLANE. THE BREAK OCCURRED AT THE WELD JOINT WHERE THE LAST HEADER JOINED THE MAIN PIPE. THIS EXHAUST SYS WAS A CUSTOM BUILT EXHAUST WITH NO SLIP JOINTS OR SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORTS. THE SYS HAD LESS THAN 5 HOURS TACH TIME SINCE INSTALLED. SUBSEQUENT INSP OF THE EXHAUST PIPE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REVEALED CRACKS AROUND THE SAME HEADER WELDS. IN BOTH CASES THE CRACKS WERE MASKED BY HEAT SHIELD TAPE AND/OR CARB HEAT MUFF. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH BURNED THE INSULATION OFF THE WIRING, GROUNDING THE P-LEADS AND KILLING THE ENGINE. OTHER RUBBER AND ELASTIC COMPONENTS ALSO BURNED. (K)