Incident Overview
On an unspecified date, a crew departed Colombo-Ratmalana Airport for a local post-maintenance test flight following the replacement of one engine. Shortly after takeoff, during the climb, an engine caught fire. Air traffic control cleared the crew to return for an emergency landing. However, before landing, the affected engine exploded and separated from the aircraft. The airplane became uncontrollable and crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All five crew members on board were killed.
Sequence of Events
According to reports, the flight was a post-maintenance check after one engine had been changed. As the aircraft climbed, a fire broke out in an engine. The crew received clearance to return to the airport. During the approach for an emergency landing, the engine that was on fire exploded and detached from the airframe. The loss of the engine caused the aircraft to lose control, and it subsequently crashed into an open field. The impact ignited a fire that engulfed the wreckage.
Findings
Investigators determined that the engine that caught fire was not the one that had been replaced. The official probable cause of the accident was listed as an engine fire and explosion for unknown reasons.