Incident Overview
Date: Friday 10 May 1991
Aircraft Type: Douglas R4D-7 (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Four Star Air Cargo
Registration Number: N134FS
Location: Aguadilla-Borinquen Airport (BQN) –
ÿ Puerto Rico
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: No. 1 engine assembly cylinderNo. 1 engine assembly cylinder
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
An DC-3 aircraft experienced a series of events leading to a probable loss of control during takeoff. A backfire of the No. 1 engine caused a significant angle of left bank, followed by a rapid descent and subsequent stall. The aircraft then lost altitude and subsequently experienced a secondary stall, resulting in a terrain collision.An DC-3 aircraft experienced a series of events leading to a probable loss of control during takeoff. A backfire of the No. 1 engine caused a significant angle of left bank, followed by a rapid descent and subsequent stall. The aircraft then lost altitude and subsequently experienced a secondary stall, resulting in a terrain collision.
Description
The aircraft climbed to 400 feet after a runway 08 takeoff. The no. 1 engine backfired and the angle of left bank increased from 30 to 60deg., while descending to 300 feet. The left wing then dropped down 90deg and the nose pitched down to a near vertical descent. The DC-3 leveled out after regaining airspeed, but encountered a secondary stall. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The pilot in command’s failure to maintain airspeed (Vs) after a partial loss of engine power on the left engine due to failure of the no. 8 engine assembly cylinder. This resulted in an in flight loss of control (stall), and in flight collision with terrain.”
Primary Cause
Pilot in command’s failure to maintain airspeed (Vs) after a partial loss of engine power on the left engine due to failure of the no. 8 engine assembly cylinder.Pilot in command’s failure to maintain airspeed (Vs) after a partial loss of engine power on the left engine due to failure of the no. 8 engine assembly cylinder.Share on:
