Incident Overview
A training flight departing from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport ended in a fatal crash shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, carrying three crew members, experienced a right engine fire during the climb. The crew communicated with air traffic control, reporting the fire and requesting permission to return for an emergency landing, which was granted.
Sequence of Events
Unable to extinguish the fire, the crew feathered the right engine's propeller and began reducing altitude. The fire spread to the right wing, which detached from the aircraft. Subsequently, the airplane lost control, entered a dive, and crashed into Guanabara Bay. The impact destroyed the aircraft and resulted in the deaths of all three crew members.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be an in-flight fire on the right engine for undetermined reason.