Fire in a wing strobe. What to do?

[Jafar]

Okay so here's a hypothetical. You're flying a light single when a fire erupts on one of your wing tip strobes. The airplane has wing tanks. What do you do?

This question was recently posed to me while getting checked out at a local rental joint. You know that feeling when you're flying along and a CFI asks you a question that you feel like you ought to know and you reach into your clue bag and come up with lint? That's what happened to me. It was all good, he gave me the answer and we went on our merry way, but I'm curious what some of you folks would answer...

 

[FastestPA31Ever]

I'd say get it down as soon as possible, and while you are on the way down slip it to try to keep the flame trailing away from the wing. I'm sure it would be tough though.

 

[NoPax]

Turn off the switch for the strobe...how much can actually burn up, wires, plastic lens...that's it ----- do I get the job?

 

[atrdriver]

Turn off the switch. The fuel is a long way from the strobe light. Then land ASAP.

 

[Wankel7]

I would turn the masterswitch off first because I would be able to hit that without looking. Then pull the breakers for the nav/strobe lights. Then back on with the master.

Then land as soon as practical....but wait? Is there cargo on board OO

Wankel

 

[Erlanger]

I doubt a fire can maintain itself in the airstream without fuel unless it was burning internally. I guess, turning off the strobes and keeping the wing up would be a smart thing to do. Maybe, slip the plane with that wing forward into the wind to help extinguish it. Oh, and get on the ground ASAP would be a good idea.

 

[Gorilla]

Probably your first clue would be when another guy says in the pattern, "Cool flaming strobe, dude!"

The other answers are correct. Borrowing from the military:

MAINTAIN CONTROL - keep flying the plane
ANALYZE SITUATION/TAKE PROPER ACTION - Turn off the electrons
And with any fire - LAND AS SOON AS CONDITIONS PERMIT

I think slipping the wing rearwards would snuff the fire faster than forwards.

 

[agpilot34]

I was always taught that ANY fire, no matter where or how small is a reason to get on the ground as soon as possible. FLY the airplane first and foremost, pop the breaker for the strobes, slip to try and extinguish the fire (those of you that said there's not much there to burn... there a fiberglass wingtip that will burn) and get her on the ground. I'd rather be safe than sorry in a case like this.

 

[ePilot22]

Deploy the chute! :erm:. . .




eP.

 

[SEVEN]

Turn off the strobe
Pull the strobe cb
Land the plane

That's all you can do.

 

[cargoflyr69]

I know a guy that did have a flaming strobe encounter! It was a rental cherokee that was always parked on the ramp next to the FBO. Well, one spring a bird decided that somehow the fiberglass wingtip would be a good place to have a nest and packed it full of straw and twigs and other crap. My buddy must of missed it and sure enough it lit up on a flight. After getting on the ground the mechanic took off the wing tip and pulled bushels of straw out of that wing! he figured the outer 1/4 was stuffed with nesting material!!!

I suppose that CFI question was legit!

 

[Flying Illini]

Never thought about it before, but I guess it's a legit question. As previously said, turn off strobe/nav light switch...you could also pop the breaker when you have some time, then slip the plane with the fire to the rear.

jackass answer: initiate dive, pull up, overstressing wing hoping that only the wingtip snaps off, taking the fire with it...continue flight!

 

[FN FAL]

Wing fire memory items for CE-208...

2, 2, 3, Radar, Vent.

The first 2 switches are on the left lower panel, Pitot Heat and Stall Heat.

Then next 2 switches, nav/strobes, on the lower left side of the upper panel.

Above that are the 3 switches for left and right landing lights and the taxi light.

Radar off, wing vent fans off/vents closed.

 

[Jafar]

It's the slip that was new to me.

He said turn off the strobe and perform a slip to keep the fire away from the gas. I had never thought of the slip maneuver to direct an in flight fire away from fuel.

It's amazing how much there is to learn.

Thanks for the input.

 

[jergar999]

Deploy the chute! :erm:. . .




eP.

What if the chute's on fire, Doctor?

 

[NoPax]

In the Commander 500, all the fuel is inboard of the engines...so my answer was right! Few know how well engineered that aircraft is.

The strobe is also on top of the tail, so no fuel there either - let it burn!

I'm not a big fan of slipping airplanes in flight for fire...no idea how effective it would be, and if it would really be worth it - do you continue to slip on final, how about at 60kts....etc

 

[Clear-&aMillion]

eject!!!

 

[ePilot22]

What If...

What if the chute's on fire, Doctor?

Well then...

initiate dive, pull up, overstressing wing hoping that only the wingtip snaps off, taking the fire with it...continue flight!

What he said of course! . Didn't you learnt anything, geez...




eP.

 

[mcjohn]

Build speed to over 100 kts. The fire might go out, if it doesn't start emergency decent with full flaps pitching for the top of the white arc at a 45 degree bank until ~1000 agl close to a best field.

 

[Cardinal]

Wing fire memory items for CE-208...

2, 2, 3, Radar, Vent.

Memory Items for a wing fire....Who knew? Am I the only one who has never heard of a strobe light bursting into flames? Now, spontaneously combusting deice boots, that I can understand. I've got the shrapnel in my shoulder to prove it.

And don't get me started on the time my flap exploded...and the time my aileron went supercritical and melted down.