Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 15 March 1978
Aircraft Type: Lockheed EC-121T Super Constellation
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 55-0121
Location: Reykjav¡k-Naval Air Station Keflav¡k (KEF) –
ÿ Iceland
Phase of Flight: Taxi
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 17
Component Affected: Left main landing gearLeft main landing gear
Category: Accident
A EC-121 taxied out to the runway for a routine training mission. A left main landing gear collapsed, resulting in a strike with the ground, followed by rapid rotation, a snapped fuel tank tip, and a subsequent fire. The aircraft experienced a loss of control and rotation, ultimately leading to evacuation.A EC-121 taxied out to the runway for a routine training mission. A left main landing gear collapsed, resulting in a strike with the ground, followed by rapid rotation, a snapped fuel tank tip, and a subsequent fire. The aircraft experienced a loss of control and rotation, ultimately leading to evacuation.
Description
The EC-121 taxied out to the runway for a routine training mission. Then the left main landing gear suddenly collapsed and the left wing struck the ground. The aircraft started to rotate rapidly to the left and the right tip tank snapped off, rupturing the fuel tanks. A fire erupted and the aircraft was evacuated. The gear reportedly failed due to stress corrosion.
Source of Information
http://www.dean-boys.com/52-3425/55-0121/55-0121.htmhttp://www.dean-boys.com/52-3425/55-0121/55-0121.htmPrimary Cause
Stress corrosion failure of the landing gear components.Stress corrosion failure of the landing gear components.Share on:
