Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 22 January 1961
Aircraft Type: Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando
Owner/operator: Capitol Airways
Registration Number: N1308V
Location: near Katy, TX –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: The No.8 cylinder of the left engine.The No.8 cylinder of the left engine.
Category: Accident
A flight occurred where a No.8 cylinder of the left engine suffered a catastrophic separation due to fatigue failures, resulting in an uncontrolled fire and subsequent crash. The fire rapidly spread through the aircraft, damaging the wheel well and causing the wing to separate.A flight occurred where a No.8 cylinder of the left engine suffered a catastrophic separation due to fatigue failures, resulting in an uncontrolled fire and subsequent crash. The fire rapidly spread through the aircraft, damaging the wheel well and causing the wing to separate.
Description
The No.8 cylinder of the left engine separated because of fatigue failures, while the aircraft was en route to Mobile at an altitude of 2500 feet. Oil released from the engine was ignited and fire flowing rearward entered the wheel well. It burned through oil and fuel lines in this area greatly increasing the intensity of the fire. The wing separated as a consequence and the plane crashed. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Fatigue failure of the No.8 cylinder hold down studs causing an uncontrollable in-flight fire”.
Primary Cause
Fatigue failure of the No.8 cylinder hold down studs causing an uncontrollable in-flight fire.Fatigue failure of the No.8 cylinder hold down studs causing an uncontrollable in-flight fire.Share on:
