Accident Lockheed L-049 Constellation NC88845,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 336950
 

Date:Thursday 19 June 1947
Time:01:40
Type:Silhouette image of generic CONI model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Lockheed L-049 Constellation
Owner/operator:Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)
Registration: NC88845
MSN: 2045
Year of manufacture:1946
Total airframe hrs:2645 hours
Fatalities:Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 36
Aircraft damage: Destroyed, written off
Category:Accident
Location:near Mayadine -   Syria
Phase: En route
Nature:Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:Karachi International Airport (KHI/OPKC)
Destination airport:Istanbul-Yesilköy Airport (IST/LTBA)
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The Constellation, named "Clipper Eclipse", was cruising at FL185 when the no. 1 prop had to be feathered due to engine problems. The remaining three engines overheated, forcing the crew to reduced power. This resulted in a gradual descent. The crew elected to continue to Istanbul instead of landing at the nearby Habbaniya RAF Station in Iraq. While descending through FL100 a fire broke out in the engine no. 2 nacelle. A rapid descent was started during which the no. 2 engine separated from the wing. With the left wing on fire a belly landing was carried out in the desert. It appeared the no. 1 engine failure was due to a broken exhaust rocker arm on the no.18 cylinder. The no. 2 engine failure was due to a failure of the thrust bearing which in turn resulted in blocking the passage of oil from the propeller feathering motor to the propeller dome.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a fire which resulted from an attempt to feather the No. 2 propeller after the failure of the No. 2 engine thrust bearing."

Sources:

CAB Accident Investigation Report

Location

Revision history:

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