Plain English Meaning

A fire that starts because something in the airplane's wiring or electrical equipment overheats, sparks, or burns. The first sign is usually the smell of hot or burning plastic, and the way to stop it is to cut off the electricity feeding it.

Full Definition

A fire caused by the failure of an electrical component, typically resulting from a short circuit, overloaded wire, or arcing in the aircraft's wiring or electrical equipment. It is usually first detected by the smell of burning insulation or smoke from behind the instrument panel, and is addressed by removing electrical power from the affected circuit or the entire electrical system.

Context Anchor

A pilot may encounter this term in emergency procedures for smoke, a burning smell, visible flames, or failing electrical equipment in flight or on the .