Incident Overview

Date: Thursday 1 April 1965
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Victorian Air Coach Services
Registration Number: VH-ANJ
Location: Warrnambool Airport, VIC (WMB) – ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 23
Component Affected: Left engineLeft engine
Category: Accident
An aircraft took off from Warrnambool Airport, Australia, and experienced a loss of engine power, leading to reduced power delivery to the right engine. The pilot immediately feathered the left engine and then discovered the right engine was delivering only partial power, necessitating a landing with wheels and flaps. The aircraft passed through three fences before coming to rest.An aircraft took off from Warrnambool Airport, Australia, and experienced a loss of engine power, leading to reduced power delivery to the right engine. The pilot immediately feathered the left engine and then discovered the right engine was delivering only partial power, necessitating a landing with wheels and flaps. The aircraft passed through three fences before coming to rest.

Description

The aircraft commenced a take off from Warrnambool Airport, Australia, and became airborne. Prior to undercarriage retraction, a loss of engine power occurred, and the pilot in command deduced that the no.1 (left) engine had failed. He feathered this engine and then became aware that the no.2 (right) engine was delivering only partial power which was insufficient to sustain the aircraft in flight. A suitable area was selected immediately, and a landing with wheels and flaps retracted was made in grassy paddocks on level terrain but the aircraft passed through three fences before coming to rest. Probable Cause: “The cause of the accident was that the pilot in command, on becoming aware of a loss of engine power, took action to feather the propeller after adopting procedures which failed to ensure correct identification of the defective engine.”

Primary Cause

Pilot error in identifying and addressing a loss of engine power, resulting in insufficient power delivery to the right engine.Pilot error in identifying and addressing a loss of engine power, resulting in insufficient power delivery to the right engine.

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