Question:
I had a small engine fire yesterday. Nothing really serious, just primed too much and whoomp. Damage, 1 hose costing 22,50 euro, 1 empty extinguisher and a dented ego. Now i have the problem about replacing the extinguisher. The old one contained Halon, but this stuff is prohibited in Europe from januari 1st 2004. I had a look at CO2 but these things are really expensive (150,- euro). The ones containing powder do more harm then good, the engine has to be taken apart for inspection after using one of those. Has anybody other suggestions?

Answer: Difficult question...

The dry powder ("Ansul Powder" is the name I know) is unequaled in fighting petroleum fed fires. Decades ago, I worked at a tank farm with ~40 million gallons of gasoline, butane & fuel oil, and they were the only thing acceptable. One man with a 20# bottle could eaily put out a 25 ft dia fire with 6+ ft flames. [Annual training..]

[We also had 250# bottles on wheels and 8000 gallons of 2% foam. Any fire anywhere near needing such would have me running a 3 minute mile.]

But, Ansul Powder does so at the expense of ruining what it saves. The baked on mess it leaves is sure death for any electronics and moving parts.

So, I'd have one in the hanger, and at the fuel pump. But on board? See the last thread about NOT deploying the Cirrus chute because.....