What happened
During the cruise phase of flight, the aircraft's number two engine failed and subsequently caught fire. To combat the fire, the pilot executed a dive, which successfully extinguished the flames. Following the incident, the flight was diverted to the nearest airport, where the aircraft landed without further incident.
The investigation
Post-flight examination of the aircraft determined that the fire had burned through the engine cowling and caused damage to the right wing spar. A detailed inspection of the engine revealed that the number three cylinder had separated from the crankcase. This separation resulted in the associated fuel injector line becoming disconnected from its fitting.
Findings
Metallurgical analysis performed on the components of the number three cylinder determined that the cylinder hold down bolts failed due to fatigue.