What happened
While operating at a cruise altitude of 5,000 feet, a DC-3 experienced a sudden and violent mechanical failure. The pilot reported hearing a loud bang, immediately followed by the sight of flames reflecting off the left engine nacelle. This event was triggered by the complete separation of the right engine assembly from the aircraft's airframe.
Following the structural failure and the resulting in-flight fire, the crew performed a forced landing at a nearby airport. There were no reported fatalities or injuries during the emergency descent and landing.
Findings
Post-accident inspections revealed significant damage to the aircraft, specifically noting fire damage on the landing gear assembly and the trailing edge of the right wing. A detailed examination of the engine components identified that the number 12 cylinder had detached from the main engine case. This failure resulted in oil being dispersed across both the exhaust and engine systems.
Further investigation into the engine's condition determined that cylinders 7, 8, and 9 had also failed and separated from the unit. The cumulative effect of these cylinder failures caused the engine to seize, which ultimately led to the entire engine assembly detaching from the airframe.