PA28 private pilot was having problems starting the engine at mlb, tmb, and pbi. After refueling cou...

Attributes
ACN	359445
Time
Date	199702
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pbi
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : parked ground : preflight
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 110
ASRS Report	359445
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The morning when I first tried to start the plane it was rather difficult. I had to try 3 times, but once it started, the engine was running smoothly. I went through the runup, and all instruments checked out, and the engine sounded fine. I continued my cross country to phk, did a touch-and-go, and went to tmb. At tmb, I taxied to FBO, stayed about 20 mins and got ready to leave. This time I had to try twice to start the engine. I made a mental note to tell dispatch about the starting difficulty (for reference purposes). At tmb the runup was alright, and I departed for pbi. At pbi, I made a full stop to get fuel at FBO. After paying for the fuel, I went back out to the plane to depart for mlb. I again had trouble starting the plane. The first time I tried to start it, I primed 3 times and tried to engage the starter. After a few seconds and the engine didn't start, I turned the magnetos off, primed twice and tried again. The engine still would not start, and I moved the throttle once. I later smelled and saw smoke, so I turned everything off and evacuate/evacuationed the plane.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PVT PLT WAS HAVING PROBS STARTING THE ENG AT MLB, TMB, AND PBI. AFTER REFUELING COULD NOT GET THE ENG TO START AFTER 2 ATTEMPTS. NOTED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENG COMPARTMENT AND ELECTED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND EVAC THE ACFT.

Narrative: THE MORNING WHEN I FIRST TRIED TO START THE PLANE IT WAS RATHER DIFFICULT. I HAD TO TRY 3 TIMES, BUT ONCE IT STARTED, THE ENG WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. I WENT THROUGH THE RUNUP, AND ALL INSTS CHKED OUT, AND THE ENG SOUNDED FINE. I CONTINUED MY XCOUNTRY TO PHK, DID A TOUCH-AND-GO, AND WENT TO TMB. AT TMB, I TAXIED TO FBO, STAYED ABOUT 20 MINS AND GOT READY TO LEAVE. THIS TIME I HAD TO TRY TWICE TO START THE ENG. I MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO TELL DISPATCH ABOUT THE STARTING DIFFICULTY (FOR REF PURPOSES). AT TMB THE RUNUP WAS ALRIGHT, AND I DEPARTED FOR PBI. AT PBI, I MADE A FULL STOP TO GET FUEL AT FBO. AFTER PAYING FOR THE FUEL, I WENT BACK OUT TO THE PLANE TO DEPART FOR MLB. I AGAIN HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE PLANE. THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO START IT, I PRIMED 3 TIMES AND TRIED TO ENGAGE THE STARTER. AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND THE ENG DIDN'T START, I TURNED THE MAGNETOS OFF, PRIMED TWICE AND TRIED AGAIN. THE ENG STILL WOULD NOT START, AND I MOVED THE THROTTLE ONCE. I LATER SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE, SO I TURNED EVERYTHING OFF AND EVACED THE PLANE.

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.

PA28 private pilot was having problems starting the engine at mlb, tmb, and pbi. After refueling could not get the engine to start after 2 attempts. Noted smoke coming from the engine compartment and elected to turn off the ignition and evacuate/evacuation the aircraft.