What is the proper procedure for a piston engine fire on the ground (e.g. during engine starting)? I am wondering what is the correct sequence of action if there is a fire e.g. during engine starting. Of course I know that there are emergency procedures in each AFM and every single plane is different etc. but I am thinking about &quot;general&quot; set of actions.
Let's say that an aircraft has a fuel shut off valve and mixture control - like a little Cessna. What should we do if an engine catches fire during start-up - shut off the fuel valve and mixture to idle cutoff, or remain mixture and cut off fuel valve (and still try to start the engine)?
Please help me out what are the correct steps.
As you said, the &quot;proper&quot; procedure is whatever is in the aircraft's operating handbook. Having said that, there is a general pattern, at least based on a few POHs I have to hand. Note that they all list the procedure as &quot;engine fire on startup&quot;; there's no general &quot;engine fire on the ground&quot; procedure.
The 'generic' steps are:

Continue cranking as usual to pull the fire and fuel into the engine
If the engine starts: let it run for a few minutes then shut down as normal and inspect the aircraft for damage
If the engine doesn't start: open the throttle, cut off the fuel (mixture, fuel pump, and/or fuel cutoff as applicable), and evacuate the aircraft

Here's an example from a Cessna 172S POH (Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine); bold items are memory items:


Ignition Switch -- START, Continue Cranking to get a start which would suck the flames and accumulated fuel into the engine.

If engine starts:

Power -- 1800 RPM for a few minutes.
Engine -- SHUTDOWN and inspect for damage.

If engine fails to start:

Throttle -- FULL OPEN.
Mixture -- IDLE CUT OFF.
Cranking -- CONTINUE.
Fuel Shutoff Valve -- OFF (Pull Full Out).
Auxiliary Fuel Pump Switch -- OFF.
Fire Extinguisher -- ACTIVATE.
Engine -- SECURE.   a. Master Switch -- OFF.   b. Ignition Switch -- OFF.
Parking Brake -- RELEASE.
Airplane -- EVACUATE.
Fire -- EXTINGUISH using fire extinguisher, wool blanket, or dirt.
Fire Damage -- INSPECT, repair damage or replace damaged components or wiring before conducting another flight.