Crispy Cirrus

denverpilot

denverpilot

Tied Down
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DenverPilot
Looks like someone had a bad morning at KAPA.

Happened during run-up, everyone got out, no injuries.

0f548476a7ccc404427c6e8ddf28acd9.jpg


(Photo credit KAPA Airport Authority)

P.S. Ooh look. Leather!
 
I've seen airplanes with IO550s, last time was a TTx, where the owner has fuel pouring out of the cowling with way to much fuel during start.... a sad sight...


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gsengle said:
I've seen airplanes with IO550s, last time was a TTx, where the owner has fuel pouring out of the cowling with way to much fuel during start.... a sad sight...


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Yeah, this looks like it happened way far away from the start area for that airplane (which would be about 20 yards from my hangar, and they're not there in the photo...) and the aviation-savvy airport PAO says it happened on run-up, so I suspect that's accurate.

Which... is odd. Busted fuel line perhaps?

Glad it happened on run-up and not a couple of minutes later for whoever was flying it. Can't quite tell which club's Cirrus it is, since they all kinda look alike in their boring homogenized Costco three-pack sort of way. Ha.
 
denverpilot said:
Yeah, this looks like it happened way far away from the start area for that airplane (which would be about 20 yards from my hangar, and they're not there in the photo...) and the aviation-savvy airport PAO says it happened on run-up, so I suspect that's accurate.

Which... is odd. Busted fuel line perhaps?

Glad it happened on run-up and not a couple of minutes later for whoever was flying it. Can't quite tell which club's Cirrus it is, since they all kinda look alike in their boring homogenized Costco three-pack sort of way. Ha.
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I think I see boots, which might mean turbo. I wonder if that's a factor?
 
eman1200 said:
no one said 'ride it down'. it was an emergency, that's what "it" is there for. I wouldn't have judged them just cause they were in the runup area!
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As long as their rocket wasn't pointed at anyone, they can allow their BRS to fire.

(Triple entendre? Just for eman? I mean mscard isn't here, so someone's got to do it...)
 
I watched a Cherokee 6 trying to start on a very hot day in Albuquerque. There was raw fuel dripping from the exhaust pipes and was pooling on the ground as he was cranking over the engine. I mentioned to a lineman that he might get the BIG fire extinguisher ready.

After several minutes of hanging on to the starter it gave one big backfire as the engine finally coughed to life. I guess the wind off the prop blew any chance of fire away.
 
Looks like an older model. As someone has said it's likely a broken fuel line dumping fuel on a hot cylinder head and poof.
 
denverpilot said:
Can't quite tell which club's Cirrus it is, since they all kinda look alike in their boring homogenized Costco three-pack sort of way. Ha.
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Yep, I don't even look at pictures of Cirri or really even any G1000 pistons. They're all the same.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
I'd prefer diving to the ground a whole lot faster than a chute would get me down?

Edit: I see there was a joke I missed.
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Joke or not, I believe it's been calculated one is on the ground quicker under the chute than even descending at Vne.

Regardless, what a horrible thought either way.
 
FastEddieB said:
Joke or not, I believe it's been calculated one is on the ground quicker under the chute than even descending at Vne.

Regardless, what a horrible thought either way.
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Did not know that. :dunno::idea:
 
1,700 fpm vertically under CAPS, at least the original model.

I guess you could beat that in a very dramatic high speed descent at Vne, but it's not like there's a huge difference.
 
FastEddieB said:
1,700 fpm vertically under CAPS, at least the original model.

I guess you could beat that in a very dramatic high speed descent at Vne, but it's not like there's a huge difference.
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That's why you spiral and not just slip. But yeah, it takes work. And there's a certain hope that wind blast may put out the fire.
 
FastEddieB said:
1,700 fpm vertically under CAPS, at least the original model.

I guess you could beat that in a very dramatic high speed descent at Vne, but it's not like there's a huge difference.
Click to expand...

Except airspeed can help extinguish a fire...


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jordane93 said:
Sad
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That one was really sad. The local story was the glider pilot (giving a commercial turned back and landed immediately, kept his cool long enough to tell the passengers he was responsible for their safety so "please remain in the glider for a moment and I'll have someone come help you out" and then went inside the trailer, told someone what he just saw happen (he knew the tow pilot of course) and asked them to go escort the people at the glider, while he sat on the couch and shook.

If true, can't blame him, really.
 
denverpilot said:
Looked to take too long to me over Boulder, CO in the video.
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yeah, I thought that video looked too slow, I think @SixPapaCharlie is right. Still horrific to watch. I also wondered if having less weight with everything on fire impacted the descent rate.

In the transition course I took I was taught to initially do a Vne dive and try to get the fire out. Obviously in that situation in real life you'll need to rely on judgment somewhat. If it spread to the cabin I'd pull the chute and open the door. I shudder at the thought

In flight fires and mid-airs are two of my biggest fears
 
I'd probably choose to fly it down. Chute cords burn.
 
FastEddieB said:
Cannot the extra airflow also stoke a fire?
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Not at 200kts. Most fire procedures include increasing airspeed to put it out after you've cut off fuel...


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Nobody is going to say it?

Why didn't they deploy the chute?
 
'Chute above, fire below... Isn't that almost the same thing as a hot air balloon?
 
FastEddieB said:
denverpilot,

Do you mind if I share that photo on COPA?
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It's not mine, it's from @flyCentennial on Twitter, which is the airport's official account and was probably taken by their PAO, so I'd assume there's no copyright or other issues with it, being that a County agency shot it and posted it.
 
FastEddieB said:
Cannot the extra airflow also stoke a fire?
Click to expand...

Only if there is sufficient fuel (gasoline, combustible airframe components) to maintain combustion at the higher airflow.
 
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