Steve Pierce
BENEFACTOR
Graham, TX
Yesterday started out as a little cool as Lee and I flew the Warner powered Hatz the 60 some odd miles to the Wichita Valley Pumpkin Drop with two 90 hp Super Cubs on our wing. Lee wanted to drop pumpkins so we used decide the Super Cub would make a better bomber than the Hatz. We taxied out to the end of runway 31, #2 in a flight of five with a Stearman as the lead and 2 Super Cubs and a J3 behind us. As I turned crosswind a big plume of black smoke poured out from under the instrument panel. I killed the master and then flames started shooting out around the starter button. I yelled at Lee to hold the stick as I grabbed the fire extinguisher but he couldn't hear me with the power off. I pulled the pin and shot the flames and thought all was now good. I flipped the master back on to call a Mayday when I realized the radio didn't come back on so I turned the master back off. Flames started shooting out again as I was making a turn to final on runway 04. Had to shake the extinguisher to get anything out. Slipped her pretty hard down on the grass runway and rolled out with more flames. I had to hold the extinguisher upside down and shake it to get anything out even thou it was 3/4 full. I jumped out and pulled the fuses from under the seat and felt the black wires were cool before I hand propped it and taxied back to the parking area. Lee was pretty upset we didn't get to drop out pumpkins but I was just glad to be on the ground. Ended up disconnecting the battery for the flight home with no further excitement.
Started checking things today and I found popped radio circuit breaker and one blown fuse. The starter button wires were burnt pretty good and the starter relay read .3 ohms where a new one reads 3-4 ohms. Put the new relay in and a button and engine started and ran fine so I test flew her only to discover that even though I had fully charged the battery the amp meter was showing 20 amps which never happens in this airplane. Once on the ground I found out she was putting out 15 plus volts and that the voltage regulator had gone south. Come to find out it was charging like that on the way up and it didn't register with the pilot. Luckily the radio has a picofuse for just such situations and that can be fixed rather easily.
I remember mounting that fire extinguisher on the edge of the map pocket some 15 years ago, glad I did but I will be sure and change it out every so many years and hope I never have to use another one. Thought someone might get something useful out of this so that is my reason for the post.
Started checking things today and I found popped radio circuit breaker and one blown fuse. The starter button wires were burnt pretty good and the starter relay read .3 ohms where a new one reads 3-4 ohms. Put the new relay in and a button and engine started and ran fine so I test flew her only to discover that even though I had fully charged the battery the amp meter was showing 20 amps which never happens in this airplane. Once on the ground I found out she was putting out 15 plus volts and that the voltage regulator had gone south. Come to find out it was charging like that on the way up and it didn't register with the pilot. Luckily the radio has a picofuse for just such situations and that can be fixed rather easily.
I remember mounting that fire extinguisher on the edge of the map pocket some 15 years ago, glad I did but I will be sure and change it out every so many years and hope I never have to use another one. Thought someone might get something useful out of this so that is my reason for the post.
