Incident Overview
Date: Friday 24 March 1967
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-70-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Amerine Turkey Breeding Farms
Registration Number: N54370
Location: Merced-Castle AFB, CA (MER) –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Powerplant fuel system lines and fittingsPowerplant fuel system lines and fittings
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A fuel leak from the APU ignited and caused a significant in-flight fire. An emergency landing was initiated due to the fire. The incident was attributed to inadequate maintenance and inspection practices, specifically concerning the powerplant fuel system lines and fittings.A fuel leak from the APU ignited and caused a significant in-flight fire. An emergency landing was initiated due to the fire. The incident was attributed to inadequate maintenance and inspection practices, specifically concerning the powerplant fuel system lines and fittings.
Description
Fuel leaking from the APU ignited and set fire to cargo, causing an in-flight fire. An intentional wheels up emergency landing was carried out. The fuel leak resulted from inadequate maintenance and inspection. PROBABLEÿCAUSES: powerplantÿ-ÿfuelÿsystem:ÿlinesÿandÿfittings miscellaneousÿacts,conditionsÿ-ÿleak/leakage personnelÿ-ÿmaintenance,servicing,inspection:ÿinadequateÿmaintenanceÿandÿinspection FACTORS: miscellaneousÿacts, conditionsÿ-ÿfireÿinÿcabin,cockpit,baggageÿcompartment miscellaneousÿacts, conditionsÿ-ÿdeteriorated
Primary Cause
Inadequate maintenance and inspection of the powerplant fuel system lines and fittings.Inadequate maintenance and inspection of the powerplant fuel system lines and fittings.Share on:
