I'm planning on making a parts order to Wicks this week. I think I'll include a fire extinguisher. Glad your damage was limited to the cowling.
Jack Cooper > [Original Message] > From: larry flesner <fles...@midwest.net> > To: KRnet <kr...@mylist.net> > Date: 5/1/2005 8:40:29 PM > Subject: KR> mistakes / new story-long > > > > This seems to be "sharing and learning from others mistakes" weekend > so I'll share with you a few exciting moments I had this morning as > 13 years of building and lots of fun flying flashed before my eyes !!!! > > After diver dumping (hauling skydivers) all day yesterday in a tired > C182 I was looking forward to some KR time today. I was off to the > airport at 7:30AM with blue skies and light winds. I rolled the trailer > out of the way, rolled out the Rans S-6 a friend of mine has in the > hangar, and rolled out the KR. With everything put back in > place and a quick preflight, I was ready for another YEE HAA kind > of day. > > A quick shot of prime and a pull on the starter handle had the blades > rotating. Wouldn't fire a lick. D#m*, must have flooded it so I kept > the starter engaged and went to full throttle to try to clear the > induction system. Still didn't hit a single time. O.K., let it set > for a minute or two and let the gas evaporate. Tried it again and > it coughed to life, ran maybe 10 seconds, stumbled and died. > > HEY, IS THAT SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF THE COWL !! SH*#, > NOW WHAT DO I DO, KEEP CRANKING OR RUN FOR MY > LIFE. I shut off the fuel and jumped out. As I reached the front > of the KR I spotted a two inch rolling flame on the bottom of the > cowl with melting, burning, dripping paint and what I learned > later was melting, burning epoxy!!!!! > > DUMB MISTAKE #1 : I had flooded the engine. Jeff Scott told > me, and maybe the net, on at least one occasion that the 0-200 > is an easy starter without prime. I never listened and have on > several occasions flooded the engine without any problems. > > DUMB MISTAKE #2 : No fire extinguisher handy. I quickly > remembered the two gallon weed sprayer setting in the hangar > that I use to wash down the engine. Hoping it had some water > in it I made two or three 20 foot leaps to the hangar and back. > It was nearly full !!!! I know you're not supposed to spray water > on a fuel fire but hey, MY BABY WAS BURNING !!!! The first > shot of water quickly extinguished the burning cowl on the > outside so I stuck the nozzle in the access hole for the oil > quickdrain, pumped like hell on the sprayer and directed the > nozzle in every direction I could inside the cowl. It probably > only took 10 seconds to extinguish the flame but I think I > pumped the sprayer half empty. > > Thinking I had the fire out I ran to the truck to get my battery > powered drill and bit to remove the cowl. Not knowing what > shape the battery was in I grabbed the extra battery also. > Turns out they were both nearly run down but between the > two of them I removed the cowl. Soot everywhere but no > damage at all that I could detect to the engine. The paint > was not even scorched on the carb heat box. The cowl was > another issue. An area about twice the size of your hand > and fingers was TRASHED ! The epoxy had burned completely > out of the glass cloth and you could see daylight right through > the weave in several areas. > > I have no clue as to what ignited the fire. I'm sure I flooded the > engine and supplied the fuel but there was no hint of a backfire > or anything that would hint of trouble. > > Lesson 1: Raw fuel outside the induction system is BAD NEWS! > I may remove my primer and will use a different starting procedure > from now on. The engine will be cranking before I induce any fuel > into the system by either cracking or pumping the throttle. > > Lesson 2: I intend to purchase a small fire extinguisher and carry > it in the KR. > > Lesson 3: Resin and paint can continue to burn even after the > fuel (gas) has burned off. When I repair the cowl next week I > intend to build in a small stainless or aluminum catch basin > under the carb that will route any fuel leakage to the access > hole for the oil quickdrain rather then let it possibly pool in > the cowl. Being a taildragger it will have a nice natural incline. > If a fire does develop, it will keep the flames out of contact with > the resin and what little fuel stays on the metal will hopefully > burn off quickly. > > 1000+ hours and this was my first experiance with an engine > fire. Hopefully it will be my last ! I'm sure others may see > other lessons to be learned here and if so, good. As for > me, I'M ONE LUCKY DUDE !!! My "Little Phoenix" will > rise from the ashes to fly again !!! > > YEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!! > > Larry Flesner > > > > > _______________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp > to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@mylist.net > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html
