Incident Overview
A four-engine airplane, operating under Title 14, CFR Part 125 for a cargo fuel delivery flight, experienced a loss of power in the number 2 engine during cruise. The captain decided to shut down the engine and return to the airport. During the shutdown procedure, the engine caught fire, prompting the crew to activate the fire extinguishing system. Although the crew initially believed the fire was extinguished, it reignited.
Emergency Response
In response to the re-eruption of the fire, the captain chose to perform an emergency landing. The aircraft touched down gear-up on snow-covered tundra. Upon landing, the left wing was entirely consumed by fire.
Post-Incident Inspection
Due to the remote location of the landing site, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) did not examine the aircraft. However, company maintenance personnel conducted an inspection. Their examination revealed that an overhauled engine cylinder had failed at its base, which resulted in the fire.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factor
The probable cause of the accident was the failure of an engine cylinder during cruise flight, which resulted in an in-flight fire and subsequent emergency gear-up landing on snow-covered tundra. A factor in the accident was the failure of the fire suppression equipment to extinguish the fire.