Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 9 October 1962
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-1-DK (DC-3)
Owner/operator: PLUNA
Registration Number: CX-AGE
Location: Montevideo-Carrasco Airport (MVD) – ÿ Uruguay
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10
Component Affected: Right wing, landing gear, engine, propeller, and the aircraft’s overall structure.Right wing, landing gear, engine, propeller, and the aircraft’s overall structure.
Category: Accident
An aircraft experienced a catastrophic accident during a final flight test, resulting in a complete rollover and impact. The aircraft’s right wing grazed the runway multiple times, leading to a loss of control and subsequent damage. The pilot immediately shut down the engine, and the aircraft subsequently bounced into the air, impacting the ground with significant force.An aircraft experienced a catastrophic accident during a final flight test, resulting in a complete rollover and impact. The aircraft’s right wing grazed the runway multiple times, leading to a loss of control and subsequent damage. The pilot immediately shut down the engine, and the aircraft subsequently bounced into the air, impacting the ground with significant force.

Description

The aircraft was undergoing the final flight test required for issuance of its Certificate of Airworthiness. It was to be a visual, local flight lasting about 1 hr 30 min. The takeoff run began at 15:14 hours, 200 m from the threshold of runway 23. This meant that 1900 m of the runway remained for the takeoff. The aircraft rose to a height which could not be determined but could not have been less than 5 m or more than 15 m. About 30 seconds after the commencement of the manoeuvre its right wing grazed the surface of the runway several times. During the later contacts the landing gear bounced off the ground with such force that the right tire burst and the landing gear leg broke causing the axle and propeller to hit the ground while the right engine was turning at almost full power. The aircraft again bounced into the air rolled over completely and finally came to rest upside down. Between the time the aircraft bounced into the air and the moment it finally came to rest, the pilot turned the power off completely. This was proved by an inspection of the condition and final positions of both propellers and the engine control switches, which were in the “off” position. Fire broke out for reasons that could not be precisely ascertained. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The accident was attributed to a maintenance error, which was not noticed by the airline inspectors and the inspector from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. This was followed by an omission on the part of the pilot.”

Primary Cause

Maintenance error not detected by aviation inspectors and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.Maintenance error not detected by aviation inspectors and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

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