NIMROD MR2 XV257 3 JUN 84.
A brief issued post BOI report read as follows:
"About 2.5 mins after take off, the bomb bay fire bell sounded and flames were seen, through the periscope, at the rear of the bomb bay. Subsequently, the Centre Section Overheat warning light illuminated, the aileron bay Under Floor Warning sounded and smoke entered the fuselage; the fire extinguisher had no effect. The aircraft was returned to base but when the undercarriage was selected down, it stopped travelling due to a total Green System hydraulic failure. Selection of emergency undercarriage achieved 3 greens. There was then a fire warning from Zone 2 of the No 2 engine. On touchdown, one of the bomb bay doors dropped and struck the runway. The aircraft was slow to decelerate and suffered a burst tyre but was successfully turned off the runway, halted and evacuated. The fire was quickly extinguished but the aircraft suffered Cat 4 damage.
CAUSE. Not positively determined. During the tactical checks outbound, the fusing switch was set to FLARES/VT and the fire warning occurred 30 secs later, corresponding with flare ignition. The most likely cause of the fire was therefore electrical initiation of a flare which had fallen from its carrier and had rested against the bomb bay doors. The most probable cause of the release of the flare was considered to have been the incorrect cocking of the EMRU by a tradesman."
The aircraft was parked up in one of the Bellman Hangars at St Mawgan before being scab patched for the one flight to Woodford.