Narrative:
At 4000 feet light icing on the windshield was noted, and the de-icing system was activated. After two cycles of de-icing, alcohol was smelled in the cockpit, and smoke was coming up from the control yoke. An emergency landing was attempted at Providence, RI but smoke and flames forced the crew to land on 10-12 inch thick ice on a reservoir. By then, heavy black smoke poured in the cockpit and fire was seen. Upon landing, the left main gear collapsed and the right wing was sheared off.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The deficient design of the isopropyl alcohol windshield washer/de-icer system and the inadequate maintenance of the system which resulted in an in-flight fire. The ignition source of the fire was not determined."
Inflight fire
Forced landing outside airport
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 21 February 1982 |
| Time: | 15:33 |
| Type: |  de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 |
| Operator: | Pilgrim Airlines |
| Registration: | N127PM |
| MSN: | 105 |
| First flight: | 1968 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 27015 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 10 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 12 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Scituate Reservoir, RI ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Groton-New London Airport, CT (GON/KGON), United States of America |
| Boston-Logan International Airport, MA (BOS/KBOS), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 458 |
At 4000 feet light icing on the windshield was noted, and the de-icing system was activated. After two cycles of de-icing, alcohol was smelled in the cockpit, and smoke was coming up from the control yoke. An emergency landing was attempted at Providence, RI but smoke and flames forced the crew to land on 10-12 inch thick ice on a reservoir. By then, heavy black smoke poured in the cockpit and fire was seen. Upon landing, the left main gear collapsed and the right wing was sheared off.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The deficient design of the isopropyl alcohol windshield washer/de-icer system and the inadequate maintenance of the system which resulted in an in-flight fire. The ignition source of the fire was not determined."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Inflight fire
Forced landing outside airport
Sources:
» NTSB-AAR-82-07Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 6 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Groton-New London Airport, CT to Boston-Logan International Airport, MA as the crow flies is 143 km (89 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Groton-New London Airport, CT to Boston-Logan International Airport, MA as the crow flies is 143 km (89 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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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