OT: Lancair fire 1/23/07

Tandem46 · #1 01-25-2007, 07:37 PM

To All?this happened this afternoon, 01-23-07, immediately outside my hangar at 8A1 (Guntersville, Al). A/C exited 03, left turnoff and shortly thereafter a 45 degree right turn onto a second parallel taxiway to his hangar. As aircraft began the 45 degree turn, he noticed slight smoke rising in front of right wing next to fuselage. Engine shut down, pilot exited to see smoke and flames coming from right exhaust area aft of engine. Attempts to exhaust flames was almost totally futile as the fuel fed fire quickly erupted and spread flames throughout. The pilot, who had recently completed the plane and was flying off the time, had been most successful in his project and flew the craft exceptionally well. I?m sure we all wish him well in his emotional and financial recovery?kc

Owner, pilot on flyoff at about 25 hours, smelled strong fumes of hot fiberglass and landed immediately. After landing and short taxi, smoke rising from under right side of cowling forward of wing leading edge. Pilot immediately exited the aircraft, procured two extinguishers from nearby hangar, called fire department which arrived in 12-15 minutes. Pilot - no injuries, aircraft totaled

- kenny

gbrasch · #2 01-25-2007, 08:02 PM

heartbreaking...........

gmcjetpilot · #3 01-25-2007, 10:22 PM

Scary, Thank God he is OK. Repeat scary. I saw the aftermath of a Glasair fire, not pretty. Long ago my '69 had a fuel line burst and a massive engine compartment fire. Hope he had insurance. Still will not replace the plane but he's OK. Hate to see that.

Cirrus has had a few fires:
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...23X01858&key=1
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...12X00305&key=1
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...23X01300&key=1
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...11X01221&key=1
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...19X01988&key=1

Notice the brake fires. RV's can get those and the fiberglass wheelpant can catch fire, especially if the highly flammable brake fluid leaks. Many (all military and commercial) aircraft manufactures have stopped using the old brake MIL-H-5606 fluid and use the better and safer high flash point MIL-H-83283 brake fluid. Key is of course not overheating the brakes, dragging them with high power. (83283 is synthetic and flashes at least 200F higher than the petroleum based 5606. 83283 cost more but in the quantities we use its nill. Most shops should have it, especially ones that support larger planes.)

Sam Buchanan · #4 01-29-2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Scary, Thank God he is OK. Repeat scary. I saw the aftermath of a Glasair fire, not pretty. Long ago my '69 had a fuel line burst and a massive engine compartment fire. Hope he had insurance. Still will not replace the plane but he's OK. Hate to see that.

I have been told the plane was uninsured. Sad.

Geico266 · #5 01-29-2007, 07:52 AM

Ouch..... Well, the bright side? He is okay to build another. It could have happened in flight with a much different outcome.

May have been a differnet outcome if he had a fire extinguisher on board? Maybe not.

Let's be careful out there.

Low Pass · #6 01-29-2007, 06:54 PM

Oh, man, that's sad.

Used to have a T-6 based at my field a few years ago that got damaged from an engine compartment fire. They went through at least 8 extinguishers before they found 5-6 that actually worked and got the flames out. But it was a pretty tough job, even with the cowling off.