Low time pilot stalled engine and had engine fire during restart attempt.

Attributes
ACN	402620
Time
Date	199805
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bow
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : holding ground other : taxi other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 320 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	402620
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
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:

On may/wed/98, in bartow, fl, I taxied the warrior to the active runway for run-up. Just before I got there, the engine stalled. As I was blocking the taxiway, I asked ground for permission to stay there and try to restart. They said ok. After 5 or 6 attempts to start the motor, dark smoke and then flames came out the front of the cowling. I shut off all power and fuel and got out. On my hand-held radio I called tower and within a few mins the FBO tug came over and the driver put out the fire. No one was hurt and the damage was only to the very front of the motor, cowling and alternator.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW TIME PLT STALLED ENG AND HAD ENG FIRE DURING RESTART ATTEMPT.

Narrative: ON MAY/WED/98, IN BARTOW, FL, I TAXIED THE WARRIOR TO THE ACTIVE RWY FOR RUN-UP. JUST BEFORE I GOT THERE, THE ENG STALLED. AS I WAS BLOCKING THE TXWY, I ASKED GND FOR PERMISSION TO STAY THERE AND TRY TO RESTART. THEY SAID OK. AFTER 5 OR 6 ATTEMPTS TO START THE MOTOR, DARK SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES CAME OUT THE FRONT OF THE COWLING. I SHUT OFF ALL PWR AND FUEL AND GOT OUT. ON MY HAND-HELD RADIO I CALLED TWR AND WITHIN A FEW MINS THE FBO TUG CAME OVER AND THE DRIVER PUT OUT THE FIRE. NO ONE WAS HURT AND THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY TO THE VERY FRONT OF THE MOTOR, COWLING AND ALTERNATOR.

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.