Incident Overview

Date: Monday 29 May 1972
Aircraft Type: Lockheed L-149 Constellation
Owner/operator: Amazonese Importa‡?o e Exporta‡?o
Registration Number: PP-PDG
Location: near Cruzeiro do Sul, AC – ÿ Brazil
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 18
Component Affected: Third EngineThird Engine
Category: Accident
A Constellation aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure of its third engine shortly after arrival at Cruzeiro do Sul, resulting in a forced landing on a highway near Porto Velho. The aircraft was refueled directly from trucks, leading to the engine failure and subsequent loss of altitude.A Constellation aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure of its third engine shortly after arrival at Cruzeiro do Sul, resulting in a forced landing on a highway near Porto Velho. The aircraft was refueled directly from trucks, leading to the engine failure and subsequent loss of altitude.

Description

Because of a lack of fuel at Cruzeiro do Sul, the Constellation had been on the ground for 4 days. Several hours after the arrival of to fuel trucks from Porto Velho the Connie was refueled directly from the trucks. The aircraft took off and climbed to FL80. Suddenly the no. 3 engine failed, followed 10 minutes later by another engine. Cargo was jettisoned, but the aircraft continued to lose altitude. A forced landing was attempted on the Cruzeiro-do-Sul – Tarauac  highway, but the aircraft struck some trees and crashed in flames. Another aircraft had been refueled just after PP-PDG and had to reject the takeoff because of an engine failure. PROBABLE CAUSE: Refueling directly from the trucks, without allowing sufficient time for the fuel to settle.

Primary Cause

Refueling directly from the trucks, without allowing sufficient time for the fuel to settle.Refueling directly from the trucks, without allowing sufficient time for the fuel to settle.

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