Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 12; Flight Crew Total 4159; Flight Crew Type 17
Workload; Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
[We] were assigned to retrieve the aircraft from the airport where the airplane had just been repainted. Extensive inspections were conducted by licensed mechanics during the two days prior to flight in order to ensure that the aircraft had been reassembled correctly and was fit for flight. For the flight; the Captain was pilot flying and the First Officer was pilot not flying. A weather briefing was conducted by the Captain and conditions en route were anticipated to be clear but breezy. The aircraft departed Runway 21 weighing 25;325 LBS (Aircraft MGTOW 26;900 LBS). Approximately 90 seconds after liftoff; both crewmembers smelled 'something hot/burning.' There was no visible smoke; but the source of the odor could not be immediately identified and a decision to return to the field was initiated approximately 2 minutes after liftoff. The return was coordinated with the Tower; who issued a clearance to enter the right downwind for Runway 21. Approximately three minutes after takeoff; while entering the right downwind for Runway 21; the right engine oil temperature was observed to be climbing rapidly above normal indication. Tower was handling other traffic in the pattern for the same runway; so given the possibility that two separate failures were now in play; the crew declared an emergency in order to ensure that access to Runway 21 would not be accidentally delayed. The approach and landing were normal and the aircraft cleared the runway and returned to the ramp normally.
[Narrative #2 contained no additional information.]
A DC3 crew departed on a training flight but declared an emergency and returned to land after a hot burning smell was detected followed by rapidly rising oil temperature. The approach and landing were normal.