Date:	Thursday 25 January 1951
Time:	13:26
Type:	Douglas DC-3C
Owner/operator:	MacRobertson Miller Airlines
Registration:	VH-MMK
MSN:	19950
Year of manufacture:	1944
Total airframe hrs:	7130 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Aircraft damage:	Substantial, repaired
Category:	Accident
Location:	Coolawanyah Airport, WA (COY) -   Australia
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Coolawanyah Airport, WA (COY/YCWY)
Destination airport:	Port Hedland Airport, WA (PHE/YPPD)
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Shortly after takeoff from Coolawanyah Airport, Australia, a fire was noticed in the auxiliary compartment of the no.1 engine. This was eventually extinguished and the aircraft returned to Coolawanyah. A safe landing on one engine was carried out at 13:32, twelve minutes after takeoff.

Conclusion: "The fire was due to fuel leaking from the connection between the fuel pressure gauge line and the elbow in E., chamber of the carburettor and being ignited. The cause of the fuel leak was the incorrect fitting of the union nut on the fuel line to the elbow in the carburettor."

Accident at Coolawanyah WA DC 3 aircraft on 25 January 1951 - VH-MMK / DCA

Other occurrences involving this aircraft

19 January 1975	N86AC	South East Asia Air Transport	0	Phnom Penh-Pochentong Airport (PNH)		w/o
Damaged on the ground

photo (c) Nick Antonatos; Perth Airport, WA (PER/YPPH); 1960

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