Narrative:
A no. 4 engine fire forced the crew to land immediately at Washington-National. The fire was fed by fuel and oil escaping from melted and burned fuel and oil line connections. The engine separated from the wing just prior to touchdown.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure in the No. 4 engine of the exhaust valve of the No. 2 cylinder and the exhaust connection of the No. 1 cylinder which resulted in fire in flight. A contributing factor was the inadequacy of the seal between the firewall and nacelle skin and between individual cowl panels which permitted the fire eventually to reach Zone 3 and to become uncontrollable."
Engine separation
Forced landing on runway
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 12 September 1946 |
| Time: | 13:42 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-54A-10-DC (DC-4) |
| Operator: | Pennsylvania-Central Airlines |
| Registration: | NX91068 |
| MSN: | 10342 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3598 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney R-2000-7 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Washington-National Airport, DC (DCA) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Washington-National Airport, DC (DCA/KDCA), United States of America |
| Washington-National Airport, DC (DCA/KDCA), United States of America |
A no. 4 engine fire forced the crew to land immediately at Washington-National. The fire was fed by fuel and oil escaping from melted and burned fuel and oil line connections. The engine separated from the wing just prior to touchdown.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure in the No. 4 engine of the exhaust valve of the No. 2 cylinder and the exhaust connection of the No. 1 cylinder which resulted in fire in flight. A contributing factor was the inadequacy of the seal between the firewall and nacelle skin and between individual cowl panels which permitted the fire eventually to reach Zone 3 and to become uncontrollable."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Engine fire Engine separation
Forced landing on runway
Sources:
» CAB File No. 3894-46Photos
Map
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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