Incident
On 8 March 1994, a Cessna 421B (registration LY-AYT) experienced a sudden engine fire on the right engine approximately 15 minutes after takeoff from Kaunas (Karmėlava) Airport. The flight crew acted promptly according to procedures, successfully localizing the fire. The aircraft made a safe landing at Kaunas Airport.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 421B, manufactured in 1972, with a total flight time of 6028 hours. It was a twin-engine, seven-seat aircraft with a crew of two pilots. The right engine was a Teledyne Continental GTSIO-520-H6, serial number 235292-R, manufactured in June 1986. The engine had accumulated 1185 hours since installation in October 1986. Its service life had been extended by 50 hours on 9 August 1993, and 34 hours had been flown since the last maintenance on 12 October 1993 (license M1182). The aircraft's last full service was on 21 October 1993 in Denmark (license M1183), after which 34 hours had been flown before the incident.
Crew and Flight
The flight had been planned as a route from Kaunas to Tallinn and back, during which the pilot was to perform a check flight for self-sufficient command. The crew consisted of the aircraft commander, an inspector-pilot from the State Civil Aviation Inspection, and another inspector from the Civil Aviation Department's Personnel Licensing Section. A fourth person, a passenger and pilot of the company 'Banga', was also aboard. Pre-flight preparations were noted as satisfactory.
Weather
The weather at the time of the incident was: overcast (10/10 cloud cover), visibility 2500 meters, cloud base at 120 meters, wind from 210 degrees at 3 m/s, atmospheric pressure 1012 hPa, temperature +2°C. The time of day was considered suitable for flying.
Maintenance Findings
Deficiencies were noted in the aircraft's technical maintenance. The person responsible for preparing the aircraft for flight had not been properly appointed. Maintenance was limited to the pilot's own preparation for operation on the ground and in the air.
Possible Cause
The probable cause of the engine fire was a possible contact between the engine oil system ventilation (breather) tube and the hot exhaust pipe. However, due to the complete destruction of the engine's additional systems during the fire, the final cause could not be determined.
Recommendations
The investigation recommended a one-time technical inspection for all western-manufactured aircraft operating in Lithuania and the appointment of competent personnel responsible for their maintenance and pre-flight preparations. Strict adherence to the aircraft's service manual was also advised.