SA8604 - Incident: SA Airlink RJ85 at Cape Town on Oct 9th 2019

A South African Airlines Avro RJ-85, registration ZS-TCP performing flight SA-8604 from Cape Town (South Africa) to Maun (Botswana) with 12 passengers and 4 crew, was departing Cape Town's runway 19 when upon rotation the crew received a fire indication for the #3 engine (inboard right hand, LF507) that lasted for about 3-4 seconds, then ceased without crew intervention. While continuing the flight the crew attemtped to work out why the warning had come on consulting with the risk management model, consulting with dispatch and maintenance department having trouble to establish contact at first,.after contact was established maintenance advised to work and complete the relevant checklists, which required the #3 engine to be shut down and required a landing at the nearest suitable airport. The aircraft had already levelled off at cruise FL330 about 150nm north of Cape Town when the crew turned around, shut the #3 engine down and drifted down to FL200. The aircraft landed safely back on Cape Town's runway 19 about 65 minutes after departure.

South Africa's CAA opened an investigation into the occurrence reporting no anomaly was found with the fire detection and engine systems. Maintenance replaced the right hand anti-ice valve as well as left and right hand fuel manifolds. With no defects found the aircraft was returned to service on Oct 12th 2019, no further incident occurred since.

The SACAA released their preliminary report reporting that no evidence of any fire or heat was found, all systems tested satisfactorily. The #3 engine's left and right fuel system manifolds were replaced and undergo further examination. The aircraft was released to service and has not experienced any recurrence.