What happened
On April 13, 2024, at approximately 14:12 local time, a Vulcanair P68C was involved in an engine fire during taxi operations at the Desierto de Atacama (SCAT) aerodrome in the Atacama Region, Chile. The aircraft, which was taxiing toward the parking apron, experienced a fire in its left engine. The pilot and one passenger were on board at the time of the event. Both occupants were able to exit the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators conducted a physical inspection of the aircraft's structure, specifically focusing on the area above and within the left engine. The investigation team examined the engine components adjacent to the left engine's silencer. During the technical examination, the silencer was removed to allow for a detailed analysis of the damage. The investigation focused on identifying the origin of the high temperatures that led to the fire.
Findings
Technical inspections revealed that components near the left engine silencer showed clear evidence of exposure to high temperatures. Further analysis of the silencer revealed corrosion damage at the specific point where the temperature increase originated. The aircraft's fire extinguisher was fully discharged during the emergency response on the ground. The investigation is currently in the final stages of data collection to determine the precise cause and develop operational recommendations.