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Atx has minor stack fire at P20, az. Mechanic called to check for fire damage finds none, but alludes to other possible airworthiness deficiencies.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 139175 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199003 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : p20 |
| State Reference | AZ |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear |
| Flight Phase | ground : parked ground : preflight other |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 250 |
| ASRS Report | 139175 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | other personnel |
| Qualification | other other : other |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other other : unspecified |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
An exhaust stack fire occurred during a start attempt. The battery was worn down from earlier attempts [at starting. The fire was extinguished with the extinguisher installed in the aircraft. Although no external damage was evident, the cowling was removed to inspect further. While the cowling was off, the battery was charged. The mechanic on the field felt the engine needed work before flight. There was no damage from the fire. I felt the aircraft was airworthy, discussed it with my director of maintenance and continued the flight west/O any problems. The operator at the airport reported to the FAA the events of the morning. They reported the possibility of an unairworthy aircraft. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. Reporter stated that the director of maintenance for the company was not on the airport and thus could not personally inspect the aircraft, nor did the FBO mechanic communication with the director of maintenance. The reporter's company and the firm for which the mechanic worked are competitors in the state. The reporter feels it possible that the mechanic was looking for business. The FAA requested a written report, but has declined to pursue the matter further. After arrival back at home base, the aircraft was inspected and found to be airworthy.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ATX HAS MINOR STACK FIRE AT P20, AZ. MECHANIC CALLED TO CHECK FOR FIRE DAMAGE FINDS NONE, BUT ALLUDES TO OTHER POSSIBLE AIRWORTHINESS DEFICIENCIES.
Narrative: AN EXHAUST STACK FIRE OCCURRED DURING A START ATTEMPT. THE BATTERY WAS WORN DOWN FROM EARLIER ATTEMPTS [AT STARTING. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH THE EXTINGUISHER INSTALLED IN THE ACFT. ALTHOUGH NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE WAS EVIDENT, THE COWLING WAS REMOVED TO INSPECT FURTHER. WHILE THE COWLING WAS OFF, THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED. THE MECH ON THE FIELD FELT THE ENG NEEDED WORK BEFORE FLT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE. I FELT THE ACFT WAS AIRWORTHY, DISCUSSED IT WITH MY DIRECTOR OF MAINT AND CONTINUED THE FLT W/O ANY PROBS. THE OPERATOR AT THE ARPT RPTED TO THE FAA THE EVENTS OF THE MORNING. THEY RPTED THE POSSIBILITY OF AN UNAIRWORTHY ACFT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MAINT FOR THE COMPANY WAS NOT ON THE ARPT AND THUS COULD NOT PERSONALLY INSPECT THE ACFT, NOR DID THE FBO MECH COM WITH THE DIRECTOR OF MAINT. THE RPTR'S COMPANY AND THE FIRM FOR WHICH THE MECH WORKED ARE COMPETITORS IN THE STATE. THE RPTR FEELS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE MECH WAS LOOKING FOR BUSINESS. THE FAA REQUESTED A WRITTEN RPT, BUT HAS DECLINED TO PURSUE THE MATTER FURTHER. AFTER ARR BACK AT HOME BASE, THE ACFT WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND TO BE AIRWORTHY.
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.