Incident Overview
Date: Friday 5 November 1943
Aircraft Type: Short S.25 Sunderland 3
Owner/operator: British Overseas Airways Corporation – BOAC
Registration Number: G-AGIB
Location: 120 km SSW of Sollum –
ÿ Libya
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 19 / Occupants: 19
Component Affected: Flowmeter transmitter head terminal boxFlowmeter transmitter head terminal box
Category: Accident
A flying boat experienced a catastrophic fire during a flight from Rod-el-Farag to Poole, UK, via Djerba, Tunisia. An electrical fault in the flowmeter transmitter head terminal box triggered a fire, resulting in a fuel line rupture and a violent fire that weakened the wing structure. The pilot attempted to sidetrack the aircraft, leading to the separation of wing sections and the starboard float. The flying boat subsequently crashed into the desert.A flying boat experienced a catastrophic fire during a flight from Rod-el-Farag to Poole, UK, via Djerba, Tunisia. An electrical fault in the flowmeter transmitter head terminal box triggered a fire, resulting in a fuel line rupture and a violent fire that weakened the wing structure. The pilot attempted to sidetrack the aircraft, leading to the separation of wing sections and the starboard float. The flying boat subsequently crashed into the desert.
Description
The flying boat operated on a service from Rod-el-Farag on the river Nile near Cairo, Egypt, to Poole, U.K. via Djerba, Tunisia. It took off at 21:45 from Rod-el-Farag and headed over eastern Libya towards Djerba. En route over the desert a fire erupted behind the no. 4 engine, possibly due to an electrical fault in the flowmeter transmitter head terminal box. The fire caused a fuel line to rupture. A violent fire ensued, weakening the wing structure. The pilot likely tried to sidestep the plane in an attempt to blow out the fire. The wing section outboard of the no. 4 engine then broke off, along with the starboard float. The flying boat descended until it struck the desert.
Source of Information
http://archive.pooleflyingboats.com/07%20Captain-Ralph-Mountain.pdfhttp://archive.pooleflyingboats.com/07%20Captain-Ralph-Mountain.pdfPrimary Cause
Electrical fault in the flowmeter transmitter head terminal box.Electrical fault in the flowmeter transmitter head terminal box.Share on:
