Nit picking uninformed question about the accident report.  The report says
the pilot noticed flames coming out of an exhaust stack prior to the accident.
  Unless the exhaust comes out the top of the cowl I am unable to understand
how the pilot could have seen it.  My ES could be spouting flames out both of
the exhausts and I wouldn’t know it.  Cant see them.
 
  I'm sure I am missing something obvious.  Please be gentle.

OK Jim,

 

Turbines or IVPTs have enormous exhaust exits on the sides of a very long cowl.  Substantial flames may be quite noticeable if one is actually looking outside the canopy, virtual reality glass panels notwithstanding.

 

Grayhawk