PA31 pilot had in-flight engine fire.

Attributes
ACN	475232
Time
Date	200006
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tal.airport
State Reference	AK
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bhm.tower
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	475232
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : 2
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

PA31 engine surged, engine noise fluctuated, RPM left engine fluctuated. At cruise 5500 ft, as I was checking gauges for problem, passenger pointed out left engine on fire. I quickly pulled fire-wall shutoff and feathered left engine. Turned toward tanana airport and started slow descent 100 FPM. Completed emergency checklist. Fire in engine cowling and baggage area continued. Radioed tanana WX observer that I needed fire department and of my situation and to call company. Assured passenger of situation and briefed them on what to do upon reaching ground. On landing, I taxied up to fire trucks, who immediately put fire out. Nobody hurt. Aircraft engine, nacelle and flap destroyed. Determined to be oil related fire from unknown source.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA31 PLT HAD INFLT ENG FIRE.

Narrative: PA31 ENG SURGED, ENG NOISE FLUCTUATED, RPM L ENG FLUCTUATED. AT CRUISE 5500 FT, AS I WAS CHKING GAUGES FOR PROB, PAX POINTED OUT L ENG ON FIRE. I QUICKLY PULLED FIRE-WALL SHUTOFF AND FEATHERED L ENG. TURNED TOWARD TANANA ARPT AND STARTED SLOW DSCNT 100 FPM. COMPLETED EMER CHKLIST. FIRE IN ENG COWLING AND BAGGAGE AREA CONTINUED. RADIOED TANANA WX OBSERVER THAT I NEEDED FIRE DEPT AND OF MY SIT AND TO CALL COMPANY. ASSURED PAX OF SIT AND BRIEFED THEM ON WHAT TO DO UPON REACHING GND. ON LNDG, I TAXIED UP TO FIRE TRUCKS, WHO IMMEDIATELY PUT FIRE OUT. NOBODY HURT. ACFT ENG, NACELLE AND FLAP DESTROYED. DETERMINED TO BE OIL RELATED FIRE FROM UNKNOWN SOURCE.

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.