# Incident 19940127024179I: Doug DC3C, Indianapolis, IN, January 27, 1994

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 27, 1994, 07:04 local time
- Place: Indianapolis, IN
- Airport: Indianapolis International
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: JRAA
- Location: 39.7173° N, 86.2946° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at INDIANAPOLIS INTL (IND), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7173&lon=-86.2946&mi=10
- Aircraft: N139JR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N139JR-2014-09-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Douglas DC3C (registry code 3021457, https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1830 series (registry code 52020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1830-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUG DC3C
- Reported engine: PWA R183092
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,200 total, 1,150 in this make and model, 260 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940127024179I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: CYLINDER HEAD SEPARATED. THE CARGO FLIGHT DEPARTED INDIANAPOLIS AT 1008Z ENROUTE TO KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. THE CAPTAIN REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD JUST LEVELED OFF AT ITS ASSIGNED CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 9,000' WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN BACKFIRING AND THE RPM SURGED TO 3100. FIRE WAS OBSERVED BETWEEN THE CYLINDERS WHICH CONTINUED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN WENT OUT. THE PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED AND THE ENGINE WAS SECURED. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE NOT USED. THE CAPTAIN DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND RETURNED TO INDIANAPOLIS, LANDING WITHOUT INCIDENT AT 1055Z. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED THAT THE NO. 1 CYLINDER HEAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CYLINDER.

## Other reports on N139JR (8)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19951214044189I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951214044189I), Dec 14, 1995: Doug DC3C (N139JR), Altoona, PA. Narrative: the pilot stated that at 12:15 local on December 14, 1995, after back taxiing for departure on runway 20, at Altoona, PA, the pilot of N139JR, DC-3…
- [Incident 19931212049669I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931212049669I), Dec 12, 1993: Doug DC3C (N139JR), Indianapolis, IN, Minor damage. Aircraft moved forward as pilot started right engine. Struck a ground power unit. Propeller severed from aircraft.
- [Incident 19901204058669I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901204058669I), Dec 4, 1990: Doug DC3C (N139JR), Des Moines, IA. NR1 engine losing oil pressure on climb. Returned. Found oil leak at the front case oil pressure line.
- [Incident 19890307024339I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890307024339I), Mar 7, 1989: Doug DC3C (N139JR), Indianapolis, IN. Taxied onto service road by mistake and became stuck in a snowdrift. Taxiway unplowed. Service road sign obscured.
- [Incident 19880308012019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880308012019I), Mar 8, 1988: Doug DC3C (N139JR), Kansas City, MO. Engine oil pressure began to drop. Shut engine down. Cause is undetermined.
- [Incident 19870105004239I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870105004239I), Jan 5, 1987: Doug DC3C (N139JR), Syracuse, NY. Engine lost oil pressure during flight. The pilot secured engine and returned to field. Metal found in oil screen.
- [Incident 19860708038929I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860708038929I), Jul 8, 1986: Doug DC3C (N139JR), Buffalo, NY. Left engine began to backfire on takeoff. Engine shutdown and returned. Under maintenance investigation.
- [Incident 19860327017289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860327017289I), Mar 27, 1986: Doug DC3C (N139JR), Buffalo, NY, Minor damage. Hard landing with bounce caused propeller blades to strike the runway.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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