My friend Simon Creasey was badly burned in a fire the occurred in his LNC2
on attempting a forced landing a week ago after (we think) engine
problems.He is still in an induced coma and will continue to be so for some
weeks yet while the repair process proceeds.

He was attempting a forced landing and apparently clipped some unseen power
wires at the last moment turning what would have been "just another day at
the office" into a disaster.

Simon's plane had a header tank, and it has got me wondering about the
wisdom of that configuration.

Sorry to hear of Simon's plight.  I hope his recovery goes well.

 

While you did not give any indication of what started the fire, remember that there are many ways that fires can start.

 

I have heard of nose gear collapses on landing where the front or bottom mounted throttle body/carb connections were ripped free and the spilled gas was ignited.  This could have possibly been avoided by shutting the cockpit fuel valve - usually not done close to landing.

 

Almost every LNC2 has fuel lines running thru the cockpit, even if the engine is fed directly from the wing, and it is possible to rupture such lines during an accident - especially if they are LNC2 original equipment Tygon tubing.

 

There are many standard certified planes with header tanks or overhead tanks and I don't think there is any greater risk from these than other configurations where fuel related fires are started by an accident.

 

I know you titled this "Cabin Fire", but is that where it started?