Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 11 July 1961
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-8-12
Owner/operator: United Airlines
Registration Number: N8040U
Location: Denver-Stapleton International Airport, CO (DEN) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 122
Component Affected: Hydraulic system selector (No. 3 position)Hydraulic system selector (No. 3 position)
Investigating Agency: CABCAB
Category: Accident
A DC-8 aircraft, departing from Omaha, experienced hydraulic difficulties during flight. Hydraulic pressure dropped to zero when attempting to extend flaps to 25 degrees, leading to an uncontrolled deviation and crash into a new taxiway construction. The asymmetric thrust caused the failure of reverse thrust on engines 1 and 2, resulting in the loss of control and subsequent crash.A DC-8 aircraft, departing from Omaha, experienced hydraulic difficulties during flight. Hydraulic pressure dropped to zero when attempting to extend flaps to 25 degrees, leading to an uncontrolled deviation and crash into a new taxiway construction. The asymmetric thrust caused the failure of reverse thrust on engines 1 and 2, resulting in the loss of control and subsequent crash.

Description

Following departure from Omaha, hydraulic difficulties were experienced. The flight continued to Denver, using flight manual procedures. Upon arrival near Denver, the ejectors were extended hydraulically, but the hydraulic pressure dropped to zero when an attempt was made to extend flaps to 25 degrees. The hydraulic system selector was then placed in the no. 3 position (flap and gear downlock) and the approach was continued. After touchdown the throttles were placed in the idle reverse thrust position and power was applied. An uncontrollable deviation from the runway occurred and the aircraft crashed into a new taxiway construction. The undercarriage was torn off and the DC-8 caught fire and burned. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the asymmetric thrust which, during a hydraulic emergency, resulted from failure of the thrust reversers on engines nos. 1 and 2 when reverse thrust was selected. A contributing factor was the failure of the first officer to monitor the thrust reverse indicator lights when applying reverse thrust.”

Primary Cause

Asymmetric thrust caused by failure of reverse thrust on engines 1 and 2 during a hydraulic emergency.Asymmetric thrust caused by failure of reverse thrust on engines 1 and 2 during a hydraulic emergency.

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