1949 Strato-Freight Curtiss C-46A crash

1949 Strato-Freight Curtiss C-46A crash

350px A Curtiss C-46D similar to the crash aircraft
Accident summary
Date	7 June 1949
Summary	Maintenance error using sparkplugs not approved for the engine type
Site	10 km (6.3 mi) West of San Juan-Isla Grande Airport, Atlantic Ocean
Passengers	75
Crew	6
Injuries (non-fatal)	0
Fatalities	53
Survivors	28
Aircraft type	Curtiss Wright C-46D
Operator	Strato-Freight, Inc.
Registration	NC92857
Flight origin	San Juan, Puerto Rico, US
Destination	Miami, Florida, US

On 7 June 1949 a Strato-Freight Curtiss Wright C-46D, registered in the United States as NC92857, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean 10 km (6.4 mi) west of the San Juan-Isla Grande Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, US while en route to Miami, Florida, US. Of the 81 passengers and crew on board, 53 were killed.

Crash

On 4 June 1949 (three days prior to the accident), the Strato Freight C-46 arrived in San Juan from Newark, New Jersey, US. While on the ground, the aircraft received maintenance: a new flap follow-up cable was installed and both engines were checked. Due to misfiring of the right engine, 13 new sparkplugs were installed. On 7 June 1950 the aircraft began to taxi to the runway at 00:10 and was airborne at 00:21. Approximately one minute following takeoff, the right engine began losing power. The aircraft declared an emergency and crashed in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 200 m (656 ft) off the coastline. The aircraft remained afloat for six minutes during which time 28 of the 81 passengers and crew were able to evacuate.

Investigation

Spark plugs

Since the right engine had backfired during the maintenance check in San Juan, 13 new spark plugs (AC-LS-87) were installed. The AC-LS-87 sparkplug accounted for 30 of the 36 required for the engine to run. This type of sparkplug was not approved for use in the Curtiss C-46A by the engine manufacturer or the United States Air Forces (which specifically prohibited the use of this type of sparkplug in the C-46A's Pratt and Whitney engines). Furthermore, the rear right engine sparkplugs suffered from extreme heat damage. This was linked to the right engine ignition switch found in the left magneto position, only allowing the rear sparkplugs to fire. Finally, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) determined "the spark plug terminals for this engine were found to be oily and dirty and spark plug electrodes were found to have too much clearance."

Overweight

Strato-Freight computed the total gross weight of NC92857 to be 44,500 lbs (20,185 kg), just under the maximum allowed 45,000 lbs (20,412 kg). The Civil Aeronautics Board calculated the total weight at 48,709 lbs (22,094 kg), 3,709 lbs (1,682 kg) over the maximum certified weight allowed.

Passenger safety

Strato-Freight NC92857, with a manifest of 75 passengers, was configured with 65 passenger seats. Five passengers were infants in arms, and 14 were between the age of 2 and 12. At least five passengers other than infants were sharing a seat with another passenger.

Probable cause

The investigation concluded "the loss of power of the right engine before the aircraft attained the optimum single engine climb speed which, together with the overloaded condition of the aircraft, resulted in it losing altitude and settling into the sea."

Corrective actions

Strato-Freight's operating license was initially suspended and finally revoked effective 8 November 1949. The CAA concluded that the company "does not exercise the care required of the holder of an air carrier operating certificate, and by the pattern of its violations manifests an attitude of indifference for the safety of others and a disregard of the civil air regulations."