What happened
During a local training flight departing from Richmond AFB in New South Wales, the crew encountered a sudden fire within the right engine nacelle. Upon discovering the flames, the crew requested and received authorization to perform an emergency landing at their origin point.
However, the fire intensified rapidly, spreading from the engine compartment to the right wing of the aircraft. The structural integrity of the wing was compromised by the heat, leading to its separation from the fuselage while still in flight. Following the loss of the wing, the aircraft became uncontrollable and struck a prairie, resulting in the total destruction of the airframe. There were eight fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
The investigation determined that the incident originated due to the failure of a power recovery turbine wheel (PRT) within the engine. The disintegration of this component led to the severing of fuel lines located inside the wheel well. This mechanical failure released pressurized fuel, which subsequently ignited. The resulting intense fire progressed through the structure so quickly that the wing failed before the crew could complete their emergency descent and landing pattern.