GA rentere pilot experiences engine fire when attempting to start engine.

Attributes
ACN	174340
Time
Date	199103
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	ground : preflight ground : parked
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 112 flight time type : 8
ASRS Report	174340
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

This incident involved an engine fire while attempting to start the aircraft. I preflted and attempted to start the small aircraft which I had reserved for myself. The temperature was approximately 32 degrees F and I tried to start the engine as follows: first, I gave 4 shots of prime and turned the ignition key for about 5-7 seconds. I stopped for a few seconds and tried turning the key as before. The engine still did not turn over, so I gave an additional 2 shots of prime and repeated the above procedures. Still, the engine would not start, so I repeated 2 shots of prime and turned the ignition several times before I realized that the engine was not going to start. I decided to shut down the aircraft. As I got out of the aircraft, I noticed a small amount of smoke coming from the front. I opened the cowling and noticed a fire. At this point, I did not think it was prudent to go back in the aircraft, but rather to hail an instrument who was nearly on the field in another aircraft so he could radio for help. The fire was extinguished by the fire department, but not before extensive damage was done under the cowling. It should be noted that I was the first pilot to have flown this aircraft after the owner had it overhauled. It is possible that aircraft was not electrically or mechanically sound at the time I was to have flown it despite the starting procedure described.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA RENTERE PLT EXPERIENCES ENGINE FIRE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START ENGINE.

Narrative: THIS INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ENG FIRE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ACFT. I PREFLTED AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE SMA WHICH I HAD RESERVED FOR MYSELF. THE TEMP WAS APPROX 32 DEGS F AND I TRIED TO START THE ENG AS FOLLOWS: FIRST, I GAVE 4 SHOTS OF PRIME AND TURNED THE IGNITION KEY FOR ABOUT 5-7 SECS. I STOPPED FOR A FEW SECS AND TRIED TURNING THE KEY AS BEFORE. THE ENG STILL DID NOT TURN OVER, SO I GAVE AN ADDITIONAL 2 SHOTS OF PRIME AND REPEATED THE ABOVE PROCS. STILL, THE ENG WOULD NOT START, SO I REPEATED 2 SHOTS OF PRIME AND TURNED THE IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I REALIZED THAT THE ENG WAS NOT GOING TO START. I DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN THE ACFT. AS I GOT OUT OF THE ACFT, I NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT. I OPENED THE COWLING AND NOTICED A FIRE. AT THIS POINT, I DID NOT THINK IT WAS PRUDENT TO GO BACK IN THE ACFT, BUT RATHER TO HAIL AN INSTR WHO WAS NEARLY ON THE FIELD IN ANOTHER ACFT SO HE COULD RADIO FOR HELP. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPT, BUT NOT BEFORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE UNDER THE COWLING. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I WAS THE FIRST PLT TO HAVE FLOWN THIS ACFT AFTER THE OWNER HAD IT OVERHAULED. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ACFT WAS NOT ELECTRICALLY OR MECHANICALLY SOUND AT THE TIME I WAS TO HAVE FLOWN IT DESPITE THE STARTING PROC DESCRIBED.

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.