Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 18 February 1959
Aircraft Type: Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando
Owner/operator: Southern Cross Airways
Registration Number: N68823
Location: Belen –
ÿ Chile
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5
Component Affected: No. 10 cylinder piston, exhaust valve, intake port, manifold pressure.No. 10 cylinder piston, exhaust valve, intake port, manifold pressure.
Category: Accident
A near-loss of power occurred following takeoff from Arica (ARI) over the Andes, with a C-46 aircraft overloaded and forced a landing on a steep, uphill area due to a failed exhaust valve.A near-loss of power occurred following takeoff from Arica (ARI) over the Andes, with a C-46 aircraft overloaded and forced a landing on a steep, uphill area due to a failed exhaust valve.
Description
Nearly one hour following takeoff from Arica (ARI) a no. 2 engine power loss occurred. The aircraft was flying over the Andes at that moment, on its way to Puerto Suarez (PSZ). The C-46 was overloaded by 1000 lb (455 kg) and could not maintain altitude. The crew were forced to carry out a forced landing on a comparatively open, uphill area when the plane slid through several 3-4 feet high rock retaining walls. The initial cause of the engine malfunction could not be established, however as a result of it the exhaust valve of the no.10 cylinder had failed from its piston beating against the spark plugs and cylinder head. This probably ruptured the intake port, and reduced manifold pressure to atmospheric pressure (22″ in flight).
Primary Cause
Overloaded engine due to 1000 lb (455 kg) load, resulting in loss of altitude and engine malfunction.Overloaded engine due to 1000 lb (455 kg) load, resulting in loss of altitude and engine malfunction.Share on:
