GA small aircraft fire on ground while trying to start engine.

Attributes
ACN	138581
Time
Date	199002
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : l77
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : btv
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
ASRS Report	138581
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On 2/wed/90 at L77. After coffee, 3 aircraft were to takeoff and return to trm. 1 aircraft departed. Attempt was made to start the engine. Prior to this time, no trouble starting. Each start attempt lasted 6-8 revolutions, then a moment of rest prior to another attempt. Approximately 4 attempts were made when heard a slight backfire in the induction system. At this time I tried to keep cranking. Only when it was evident a start was not possible I exited the aircraft and tried to extinguish the fire. We were unable to direct the extinguisher at the source of the fire. Had there been an access door or panel as in the older type aircraft, only minor damage would have occurred and it could have flown home. WX was clear--75 degrees F. Slight breeze--4-5 KTS. Aircraft was fueled 2/sat/90 at LO8 with 100LL.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA FIRE ON GND WHILE TRYING TO START ENGINE.

Narrative: ON 2/WED/90 AT L77. AFTER COFFEE, 3 ACFT WERE TO TKOF AND RETURN TO TRM. 1 ACFT DEPARTED. ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO START THE ENG. PRIOR TO THIS TIME, NO TROUBLE STARTING. EACH START ATTEMPT LASTED 6-8 REVOLUTIONS, THEN A MOMENT OF REST PRIOR TO ANOTHER ATTEMPT. APPROX 4 ATTEMPTS WERE MADE WHEN HEARD A SLIGHT BACKFIRE IN THE INDUCTION SYS. AT THIS TIME I TRIED TO KEEP CRANKING. ONLY WHEN IT WAS EVIDENT A START WAS NOT POSSIBLE I EXITED THE ACFT AND TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. WE WERE UNABLE TO DIRECT THE EXTINGUISHER AT THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. HAD THERE BEEN AN ACCESS DOOR OR PANEL AS IN THE OLDER TYPE ACFT, ONLY MINOR DAMAGE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AND IT COULD HAVE FLOWN HOME. WX WAS CLEAR--75 DEGS F. SLIGHT BREEZE--4-5 KTS. ACFT WAS FUELED 2/SAT/90 AT LO8 WITH 100LL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.