Incident
A scheduled airline passenger flight encountered a sudden explosion and fire in the right engine approximately 800 feet above ground level during the initial climb phase after takeoff. The flight crew immediately responded by shutting down the affected engine and discharging two fire extinguishing bottles, which successfully suppressed the fire. The aircraft then landed without further incident.
Investigation
Post-flight inspection revealed that a high-pressure fuel control unit fuel return line, located near the starter generator, was leaking. The line was sent to a laboratory for detailed examination.
Cause
Laboratory analysis determined that the fuel return line had sustained previous external damage, which led to the leak. This leak resulted in the engine fire during the climb.