Narrative:
The plane departed Opa-locka Airport at 08:39 carrying a load consisting of electronics, toys and furniture. About three miles offshore, at 3,000 feet, the pilot felt the plane vibrating and he saw smoke coming from the no. 1 engine. The crew were unable to feather the no. 1 propeller and the plane began to lose altitude. The pilot then turned and ditched the plane in the Maule Lake Marina in Miami.
Investigation revealed the no. 1 engine had been removed from N41626 on September 26, 2003 due to high oil consumption. It was reportedly preserved and stored at the operator's warehouse. On October 27, 2004 the left engine, which was producing metal for months, was removed and the previous engine was taken out of preservation and installed in the left position with a new overhauled propeller assembly. On November 6, 2004, the left engine's propeller governor was replaced due to the left propeller slow to response to power setting. Post-accident examination revealed that the master rod bearing had incurred a catastrophic failure. Examination of the propeller assembly revealed metal contamination throughout the system; the propeller's governor screen gasket was clogged with metal contamination.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The improper maintenance of the left engine by company maintenance personnel (failure to flush metal from the oil system and failure to properly preserve the engine for storage) resulting in a total failure of the master rod bearing and contamination of the engine oil system with metal, which prevented the left propeller from feathering. This resulted in the airplane being unable to maintain altitude following loss of engine power and subsequent ditching in a lake. A factor in this accident is the aircraft operator and flight crew exceeding the maximum allowable takeoff weight for the airplane."
Ditching
» FAA
» South Florida Sun-Sentinel
accident date: 04-12-2004
type: Convair CV-340-70
registration: N41626
accident date: 04-12-2004
type: Convair CV-340-70
registration: N41626
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 4 December 2004 |
| Time: | 08:51 |
| Type: |  Convair CV-340-70 |
| Operator: | Miami Air Lease |
| Registration: | N41626 |
| MSN: | 274 |
| First flight: | 1955 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 18473 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-103W |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | North Miami Beach, FL ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Opa-locka Airport, FL (OPF/KOPF), United States of America |
| Nassau International Airport (NAS/MYNN), Bahamas |
The plane departed Opa-locka Airport at 08:39 carrying a load consisting of electronics, toys and furniture. About three miles offshore, at 3,000 feet, the pilot felt the plane vibrating and he saw smoke coming from the no. 1 engine. The crew were unable to feather the no. 1 propeller and the plane began to lose altitude. The pilot then turned and ditched the plane in the Maule Lake Marina in Miami.
Investigation revealed the no. 1 engine had been removed from N41626 on September 26, 2003 due to high oil consumption. It was reportedly preserved and stored at the operator's warehouse. On October 27, 2004 the left engine, which was producing metal for months, was removed and the previous engine was taken out of preservation and installed in the left position with a new overhauled propeller assembly. On November 6, 2004, the left engine's propeller governor was replaced due to the left propeller slow to response to power setting. Post-accident examination revealed that the master rod bearing had incurred a catastrophic failure. Examination of the propeller assembly revealed metal contamination throughout the system; the propeller's governor screen gasket was clogged with metal contamination.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The improper maintenance of the left engine by company maintenance personnel (failure to flush metal from the oil system and failure to properly preserve the engine for storage) resulting in a total failure of the master rod bearing and contamination of the engine oil system with metal, which prevented the left propeller from feathering. This resulted in the airplane being unable to maintain altitude following loss of engine power and subsequent ditching in a lake. A factor in this accident is the aircraft operator and flight crew exceeding the maximum allowable takeoff weight for the airplane."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
OverloadedDitching
Sources:
» AP» FAA
» South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Photos
accident date: 04-12-2004
type: Convair CV-340-70
registration: N41626
accident date: 04-12-2004
type: Convair CV-340-70
registration: N41626
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 Opa-locka Airport, FL to Nassau International Airport as the crow flies is 296 km (185 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from Opa-locka Airport, FL to Nassau International Airport as the crow flies is 296 km (185 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
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.
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2023 Flight Safety Foundation