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Emergency services were called to the scene of a burning plane at Parafield Airport early on Tuesday after a Grumman AA-5’s engine caught fire shortly after landing at the aerodrome.
The pilot of the aircraft, VH-ERP, and sole occupant at the time, was able to exit the plane safely before fire crews attended the scene, around 8:30am. No injuries were reported, though the plane’s engine, propeller and nose were all heavily damaged. It is not yet clear what caused the engine to catch alight.
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The pilot had departed from Murray Bridge, and landed safely at Parafield’s Runway 03 Right. Firefighters were able to attend the scene in Adelaide’s north and put out the engine fire within 10 minutes of being alerted.
Earlier reports of the incident implied that the engine had caught on fire before landing, however, later it was revealed that the engine did not begin to smoke until after the pilot had landed the aircraft.
Emergency crews have rushed to the tarmac at Parafield Airport after a small aircraft caught alight mid-flight. 7NEWS Adelaide at 11.30am, 4pm and 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfFYTVQ #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/4aaq6o7eyT
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) June 1, 2021
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in a statement that it was continuing to gather information about the incident and the circumstances in which the engine caught fire.
The air investigation body has not yet determined if the incident warrants a formal transport safety investigation.
“The ATSB selectively conducts transport safety investigations into those accidents and incidents that are assessed as likely having the potential to identify systemic safety issues,” the air safety agency said.
Images and videos were later revealed to show the burnt aircraft being moved off the apron.
