Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 22 August 1950
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-6
Owner/operator: American Airlines
Registration Number: N90705
Location: near Eagle, CO –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Unknown
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 59
Component Affected: Propeller bladePropeller blade
Investigating Agency: CABCAB
Category: Accident
A propeller failure on a commercial aircraft resulted in a cabin decompression and the death of a passenger with heart problems. A probable cause was a manufacturing defect leading to fatigue fracture and subsequent blade failure during flight.A propeller failure on a commercial aircraft resulted in a cabin decompression and the death of a passenger with heart problems. A probable cause was a manufacturing defect leading to fatigue fracture and subsequent blade failure during flight.
Description
En route, the no. 3 propeller failed. A propeller blade struck and punctured the fuselage, causing a cabin decompression. A safe landing was carried out at Denver. One passenger who had heart trouble died prior to landing. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The internal gouging of a propeller blade during the manufacturing process which resulted in a fatigue fracture and subsequent failure during flight.”
Primary Cause
Manufacturing defect ? internal gouging of a propeller blade leading to fatigue fracture and blade failure.Manufacturing defect ? internal gouging of a propeller blade leading to fatigue fracture and blade failure.Share on:
