Extinguish a Fire During Flight
These instructions are to be used in the event of a wing fire during flight. To know how to extinguish a fire during flight, read on.
Steps
- Notice a fire on the wing. (STAY CALM AND DO NOT PANIC)
- Perform a slip to keep the fire from coming inward from the wing. "Step on the fire and fly away from it", or press the rudder on the same side as the fire, and bank in the opposite direction with ailerons
- Turn off all the electrical to the wings such as the positioning lights or the strobe lights since this is the probable cause of the wing fire.
- Descend the airplane down at an airspeed of {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} to extinguish the flames. (Note: If flames are not extinguished, then descend at a faster rate until they are.)
- Pick a field suitable for a forced landing. A place where it is somewhat open space with nothing to crash into is best.
- Make a MAY DAY call, (A distress call made on the frequency of 121.5MHz to notify search and rescue of who you are, where you are with your altitude and direction, what the emergency is, how many people are on board the plane, and what your intentions are.)
- Turn on the ELT, (This is an Emergency Locating Transmitter that transmits a signal on 121.5 MHZ to notify Search and Rescue of your location.)
- Brief the passengers such as telling them to buckle up, the whereabouts of the fire extinguisher and first aid kit, remove false teeth and any sharp objects, open the doors prior to landing so that they do not jam, and how they are going to exit the plane.
- Set up for a soft field landing which usually requires full flaps and a little higher then usual RPM.
- Land the airplane. (Caution: land with the nose wheel up high to reduce the chance of the airplane diving into the ground.)
- Once the airplane has come to a complete stop, turn off the engine, take out the key, apply parking brake if needed, and turn off the fuel.
- Exit out the airplane the opposite side of the wing fire.
- Move to the rear of the plane at a distance of {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}, staying well clear. (Warning: since the fuel tanks are located in the wings of most planes there is a chance that the fuel tank may explode.)
