Incident Overview
Date: Monday 4 March 1963
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 43-30655
Location: Bentwaters RAF Station (BWY) –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Taxi
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Component Affected: RudderRudder
Category: Accident
An aircraft mid-field on the left runway experienced a catastrophic crash after attempting a ground-loop maneuver. The rudder lock was not removed prior to the test, resulting in a crash into a grove of trees.An aircraft mid-field on the left runway experienced a catastrophic crash after attempting a ground-loop maneuver. The rudder lock was not removed prior to the test, resulting in a crash into a grove of trees.
Description
The aircraft was undergoing a high speed taxi check on the runway when it departed the runway mid-field on the left side. The pilot attempted to ground-loop the aircraft but it crashed into a grove of trees. The rudder lock had not been removed before the test, leading to this accident.
Primary Cause
Rudder lock failure due to lack of prior removal during ground-loop testing.Rudder lock failure due to lack of prior removal during ground-loop testing.Share on:
