DCA85AA006

Factual narrative

SHORTLY AFTER CLIMBING & LEVELING AT 6000 FT, THE R ENG BMEP GAGE INDICATED A RAPID POWER LOSS & THE R ENG RPM 'INCREASED OUT OF CONTROL' TO ABOUT 3100 RPM. THE AIRCREW RETARDED THE R THROTTLE & REDUCED THE R ENG TO 2100 PRM BY USING THE PROP INCREASE/DECREASE TOGGLE SW. THE AIRCREW WERE UNABLE TO FEATHER THE R PROP OR MAINTAIN ALT, SO THEY DIVERTED TO THE NEAREST ARPT (WALKER COUNTY). WHILE TURNING DOWNWIND FOR RWY 9, THE R ENG FIRE INDICATOR ACTIVATED & THE COPLT CONFIRMED A FIRE. BOTH FIRE BOTTLES WERE DISCHARGED & THE R PROP STOPPED ROTATING. INJECTION WATER FOR THE L ENG WAS EXHAUSTED & THE L ENG BEGAN BACKFIRING. THE CAPTAIN THEN MANEUVERED & LANDED ON RWY 27. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE R MAIN TIRES FAILED, THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE R SIDE OF THE RWY & HIT A DITCH & THE GEAR COLLAPSED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE #6 CYL LINK ROD &/OR PISTON IN THE R ENG HAD FAILED, RESULTING IN FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENG & #6 CYL. SUBSEQUENTLY, FIRE & HEAT CAUSED THE R ENG TO SEIZE & ALSO DAMGED THE R MAIN TIRES WHICH FAILED AT TOUCHDOWN. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12