ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-4 NC88911 New York-Floyd Bennett Field, NY (NOP)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Saturday 20 September 1947
Time:18:23
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC4 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas DC-4
Operator:Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)
Registration: NC88911
MSN: 27229
First flight: 1944
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 36
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 41
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:New York-Floyd Bennett Field, NY (NOP) (   United States of America)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Bermuda Air Terminal (BDA/TXKF), Bermuda
Destination airport:New York-La Guardia Airport, NY (LGA/KLGA), United States of America
Flightnumber:PA131
Narrative:
Three hours into the flight problems with the right hand fuel system caused the captain to attempt to operate the no. 3 and 4 engines from their respective main tanks. Both engines failed a little later. Flight was continued on 2 engines until the fire warning light came on for both no. 3 and 4 engines. Shortly after firing the no. 3 engine CO2 bottle the landing gear leg dropped down with its tire burning. Full takeoff power was applied as the crew prepared for a ditching. The aircraft was able to reach Floyd Bennett and landed 775 feet from the south end of runway 01, skidding for another 2167 feet on the runway. It appeared that the engine problems were caused by electrical arcing between an aluminum battery bus bar and an engine control pulley bracket in the no. 3 engine nacelle.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was electrical arcing between the battery 'bus' and an engine control pulley bracket in the No 3 engine nacelle. This arcing resulted from the lack of adequate protection for the 'bus'."

Accident investigation:

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Investigating agency: CAB
Status: Investigation completed
Accident number: final report
Download report: Final report

Sources:
» Air Britain Casualty compendium (pt. 46)
» CAB File No. 1-0083


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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 Bermuda Air Terminal to New York-La Guardia Airport, NY as the crow flies is 1235 km (772 miles).

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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