What happened
A local training mission began as the crew departed from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumpon Airport, bound for Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport. During the initial climb phase, the flight crew notified air traffic control that a fire had ignited in the right engine. Following this report, controllers authorized an emergency return to the departure airport.
As the crew attempted to manage the situation, they were unable to suppress the flames. In an effort to mitigate the damage, the pilot feathered the propeller and began a descent. During this maneuver, the fire spread to the right wing, causing it to separate from the fuselage. The loss of the wing resulted in an uncontrollable dive, leading the aircraft type to impact the waters of Guanabara Bay. The crash resulted in three fatalities among the crew members, and the airframe was completely destroyed.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor in the accident was an in-flight fire occurring in the right engine for reasons that remained undetermined.