6 Group Unavailable
Avaition Safety Network Crashed after in-flight engine fire. Wreckage examination showed a fuel leak in the #2 engine compartment of CH11305 resulted in an in-flight fire. In the process of responding to the fire, the crew shut down the engine, activated the fire extinguishing system using the T-handle and commenced fuel dump procedures. The right hand dump tube did not extend during the fuel dump sequence; this increased the possibility of fuel to fuselage contact. The #2 fire T-handle was reset prior to the in-flight break-up; re-introducing fuel and oil into the engine compartment after the fire extinguishing system had been activated, likely re-igniting the fire or causing a small explosion in the # 2 engine compartment. During these actions the dumped fuel was ignited and this set off a catastrophic series of events causing rear rotor blade to fuselage contact and the break-up of the aircraft. Forces precipitated by the aircraft break-up and subsequent ground impact caused fatal injuries to all six crew members.