Hello All: Thanks one and all for your kind wishes.
I'll try to fill everyone on just what happened. Just why I had the fire-- I can't answer that. I only did one thing different that evening. Normally when I preflight, I first open the cockpit and take the bungee off the wheel that I use to tie the control surfaces down, grab my flash light, fuel stick, fuel tester, and TURN ON THE FUEL. That night there was a lot of standing water on the ground so I elected to turn on the fuel later on thus avoiding more wet footprints in the cockpit. When I got in the cockpit I urned on the fuel, primed it 3 times as usual for the temp and started the engine. It usually starts immediately, which it did. It had just run long enough for me to check oil pressure when it quit. I attempted restart which is when I probably got the backfire. I got a few sputters but never got the engine to start. I then noticed smoke, which smelled like burning insulation to me. My first thought was electrical and I cut the master switch and got out. (Later I determined that the burning insulation smell was from the burning fiberglass nose bowl) By now the fire had a good start on the bottom of the engine. My first thought was hollar for help. I grabbed my backup handheld from the side pouch where I keep it and called the tower for help. The first attempt to extinguish it with a small extinguisher failed. Finally a larger CO2 was used and the fire was out. The nose bowl, upper, lower, and side cowls are garbage. The skin on the right side back to frame B is scorched. All the wiring, hoses etc are ash. I expect the Carburetor, engine mount, carb heat box, etc are junk. I don't know if the engine itself is damaged. My mechanic and A.I. will look at the plane Wednesday and prepare an estimate for my insurance guy. I now have to convince my kids and grandkids that this is NOT an everyday event. I like others have a Stromberg carb that drips fuel if it is parked without turning the fuel off. I wonder if this was a factor. I was told it was chronic and not to worry about it. I wonder-------- You can bet that the next carb will NOT drip fuel. Cheers: Paul N2409H---- I hope __________________________________________________________________________ ______ To unsubscribe from this list please send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ______________________________________________ Faster, stronger and able to send millions of emails in one click: the new Topica site! http://www.topica.com/t/14
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