Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 5 August 1973
Aircraft Type: Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Owner/operator: Happy Hours Air Travel Club
Registration Number: N6202C
Location: Tamarac, FL – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 8
Component Affected: Aircraft powerplant – fuel system – pumps systems – electrical system – protective devicesAircraft powerplant – fuel system – pumps systems – electrical system – protective devices
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
The Constellation experienced a loss of power on all four engines, necessitating a wheels-up landing due to fuel starvation caused by improper fuel transfer and inadequate maintenance. This resulted from a failure in the fuel pump circuit breaker, leading to corrosion and subsequent fuel starvation. Insufficient flight supervision and emergency procedures contributed to the incident.The Constellation experienced a loss of power on all four engines, necessitating a wheels-up landing due to fuel starvation caused by improper fuel transfer and inadequate maintenance. This resulted from a failure in the fuel pump circuit breaker, leading to corrosion and subsequent fuel starvation. Insufficient flight supervision and emergency procedures contributed to the incident.

Description

The Constellation lost power on all 4 engines and had to make a wheels-up landing as a result. Improper transfer of fuel caused starvation. This occurred as a result of inadequate maintenance and inspection (the fuel pump circuit breaker was corroded). Inadequate flight supervision and improper emergency procedures were causal factors. PROBABLE CAUSE: pilot in command – inadequate supervision of flight personnel – flight engineer: improper use of equipment miscellaneous acts,conditions – fuel starvation miscellaneous acts,conditions – improper emergency procedures miscellaneous acts,conditions – intentional wheels-up FACTORS: personnel – maintenance,servicing,inspection: inadequate inspection of aircraft (maintenance personnel) powerplant – fuel system: pumps systems – electrical system: protective devices miscellaneous acts,conditions – corroded/corrosion pilot in command – inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning partial power loss – partial loss of power – 4 engines

Primary Cause

Inadequate maintenance and inspection of aircraft (maintenance personnel), particularly the fuel pump circuit breaker, resulted in corrosion and fuel starvation.Inadequate maintenance and inspection of aircraft (maintenance personnel), particularly the fuel pump circuit breaker, resulted in corrosion and fuel starvation.

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