Incident Overview
Date: Monday 3 August 1953
Aircraft Type: Lockheed L-749A Constellation
Owner/operator: Air France
Registration Number: F-BAZS
Location: 10 km off Fethiye –
ÿ Trkiye
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 42
Component Affected: No. 3 engineNo. 3 engine
Investigating Agency: BEABEA
Category: Accident
A Constellation aircraft experienced a catastrophic engine failure during a flight from Rome to Beirut and Tehran. The no. 3 engine detached from the wing due to violent vibration, leading to loss of altitude and a forced ditching. The aircraft subsequently sank, being rediscovered by a Turkish Navy ship in 2018.A Constellation aircraft experienced a catastrophic engine failure during a flight from Rome to Beirut and Tehran. The no. 3 engine detached from the wing due to violent vibration, leading to loss of altitude and a forced ditching. The aircraft subsequently sank, being rediscovered by a Turkish Navy ship in 2018.
Description
The Constellation operated on a flight Paris-Rome-Beirut-Tehran. The flight departed Rome at 22:32 GMT bound for Beirut. At 02:10 the no. 3 engine broke away from the wing following violent vibration. Vibrations continued and altitude was lost. A forced ditching was carried out 6 miles from Fetiye point, 1,5 miles offshore. The aircraft sank and was not salvaged. It was rediscovered by a Turkish Navy ship in 2018. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Failure in flight of a propeller blade resulting in the separation of no.3 engine from the aircraft and loss of control of no.4 engine. The cause of the blade fracture cannot be determined.”
Primary Cause
Failure in flight of a propeller blade resulting in the separation of no.3 engine from the aircraft and loss of control of no.4 engine.Failure in flight of a propeller blade resulting in the separation of no.3 engine from the aircraft and loss of control of no.4 engine.Share on:
