Service difficulty report · Carburetor · Piper PA28161

Difficulty date
May 6, 2021
Submitted
August 20, 2021
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N54MC
Make and model
Piper PA28161
Aircraft serial
287816208
Aircraft time
7,535 hours
Engine
Lyc O320D3G
Engine time
4,201 hours
Part
Carburetor
Part number
LW1598670
Part serial
75958110
Condition
Leaking
Location
Engine
Stage of operation
TX
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
A
Precautionary procedure
E

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

AT AROUND 4:30 LOCAL N54MC ENTERED KDWH AIRSPACE FOR WORK IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. AFTER THE 3RD LAP AROUND WE CAME AND LANDED WITH THE INTENT OF GOING BACK, THE THE FLIGHT SCHOOL. AFTER TOUCHDOWN WE STARTED SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT THE RUNWAY. AS SOON AS WE STARTED SLOWING DOWN, THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. BUT WE STILL HAD MOMENTUM TO EXIT RUNWAY 35L ON TAXIWAY E. WE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO A FULL STOP AND ADVISED TOWER THAT OUR ENGINE QUIT AFTER LANDING AND THAT WE WERE GOING TO ATTEMPT THE RESTART. DURING THE RESTART, I WAS HANDLING THE RESTART DUE TO THE STUDENT BEING AT LOW TIME AND LOW EXPERIENCE. I TREATED THE RESTART LIKE A NORMAL RESTART AT FIRST, BUT AFTER THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START, I ATTEMPTED THE VAPOR LOCK STARTING PROCEDURE, THROTTLE FULL OPEN, MIXTURE IDLE CUT-OFF. THE ENGINE STARTED TO BEGIN TO START LIKE NORMAL AND THAT IS WHEN I INTRODUCED FUEL. ONCE I MOVED THE MIXTURE TO RICH, THE AIRCRAFT CABIN GOT EXTREMELY HOT, AND WE BEGAN TO SEE THE FLAMES. IN THAT MOMENT, THE STUDENT AND I BEGAN EVACUATING THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE SMOKE ENTERING THE CABIN AND THE EXTREME HEAT WE FELT. DURING INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FIRE; THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS TURNED ON AND FUEL WAS DRIPPING IN TO AIR BOX.

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