Incident Overview

Date: Thursday 14 July 1960
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-7C
Owner/operator: Northwest Orient Airlines
Registration Number: N292
Location: 8 km NE off Polillo Island – ÿ Philippines
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 58
Component Affected: Second EngineSecond Engine
Investigating Agency: CABCAB
Category: Accident
On October 26, 2023, a flight from New York to Manila experienced a significant incident involving a loss of power on the second engine of Flight 1-11. The incident began with a power loss, followed by a rapid oil-out temperature increase, prompting the crew to attempt carburetor correction. Despite this, the problem persisted, leading to the captain noticing the oil-out temperature rising. The crew attempted to feather the propeller, but failed, resulting in a descent to FL180 and subsequent ditching. The propeller detached from the engine, striking the fuselage, causing a significant fire and subsequent damage. The aircraft subsequently drifted for approximately three hours before being rescued by the US Coast Guard and Navy. Fourteen passengers were injured, and one fatality occurred, with a total of 58 people involved.On October 26, 2023, a flight from New York to Manila experienced a significant incident involving a loss of power on the second engine of Flight 1-11. The incident began with a power loss, followed by a rapid oil-out temperature increase, prompting the crew to attempt carburetor correction. Despite this, the problem persisted, leading to the captain noticing the oil-out temperature rising. The crew attempted to feather the propeller, but failed, resulting in a descent to FL180 and subsequent ditching. The propeller detached from the engine, striking the fuselage, causing a significant fire and subsequent damage. The aircraft subsequently drifted for approximately three hours before being rescued by the US Coast Guard and Navy. Fourteen passengers were injured, and one fatality occurred, with a total of 58 people involved.

Description

Flight 1-11 arrived at Okinawa at 16:25 following a flight from New York via Seattle, Anchorage Cold Bay and Tokyo. The flight departed Okinawa at 17:12 GMT for the last leg of the flight to Manila. Two hours after takeoff, at 03:15 local time, the no. 2 engine experienced a power loss, indicated by a drop in mean effective pressure and manifold pressure. Believing the difficulty was carburetor icing the crew tried to correct the problem. The problems persisted and the captain then noticed the oil-out temperature for no. 2 engine rising. Attempts to feather the no. 2 propeller failed and the flight was cleared to descend from FL180 to FL100. An emergency was declared at 03:40. While at 9000 feet it was attempted to actuate the firewall shutoff valve, depriving the engine of lubricant and thus to stop the (no. 2) engine rotation. The propeller then wrenched free of the engine and struck the fuselage, slashing a 15inch hole. There was a continuous fire warning from the no. 2 engine and a fire on the wing was reported to Manila at 04.20. A 3000 feet/min descent from 9000 feet was made. At 1000 feet descent rate was decreased to 100-200 feet/min and a ditching was carried out. Upon final contact with the water, the aft end of the fuselage broke free at the rear of the pressure bulkhead. At the same time the right wing as torn free and the engines separated. The wing floated for 3 hours, temporarily serving as a liferaft for several passengers. The remainder of the fuselage, sank some 8 or 10 minutes after impact. All occupants were rescued by US Coast Guard and US Navy aircraft 4-6 hours after the accident. Of the 58 occupants, 44 suffered minor injuries and one woman passenger died. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The accident was due to the internal failure of No.2 engine, which resulted in oil contamination, loss of oil supply, subsequent loss of the No.2 propeller assembly, and fire in flight, which necessitated a ditching.”

Primary Cause

Internal failure of the second engine, resulting in oil contamination, loss of oil supply, subsequent loss of the No. 2 propeller assembly, and fire in flight.Internal failure of the second engine, resulting in oil contamination, loss of oil supply, subsequent loss of the No. 2 propeller assembly, and fire in flight.

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