20040507007689A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Doug C54B-DC · Mcgrath, AK · May 7, 2004

Date: May 7, 2004 · 21:45 local
Place: Mcgrath, AK
Phase of flight: Starting Engines
Operating rules: Part 125 operator
Operator: B2OB
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N44911
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC04LA052
Reported as: Doug C54BDC
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney R2000*
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0

N44911Registration cancelled Jul 20, 2017 · Douglas C54B-DCS/N 10461 · Built 1944 Airframe modelDouglas C54B-DC Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Brooks air fuel a/c N44911 had an explosion in the area of number one engine after engine startup. This was a four-engine start sequence in which the #1 engine was last. The explosion and fire caused the #1 engine and a major portion of the wing to depart the aircraft, wing separation was between #1 and #2 engines. #1 engine was up and running seconds prior to the explosion. privacy data omitted (-23 Amendment) privacy data omitted explosion in #1 auxiliary fuel tank after start on ground. #1 and #2 main fuel tanks ruptured. Approximately 250 to 500 gallons of fuel burned. Burned wing off of aircraft just outboard of #2 engine nacelle.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) BROOKS AIR FUEL A/C N44911 HAD AN EXPLOSION IN THE AREA OF NUMBER ONE ENGINE AFTER ENGINE STARTUP. THIS WAS A FOUR-ENGINE START SEQUENCE IN WHICH THE #1 ENGINE WAS LAST. THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE CAUSED THE #1 ENGINE AND A MAJOR PORTION OF THE WING TO DEPART THE AIRCRAFT, WING SEPARATION WAS BETWEEN #1 AND #2 ENGINES. #1 ENGINE WAS UP AND RUNNING SECONDS PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED (-23 AMENDMENT) ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ EXPLOSION IN #1 AUXILIARY FUEL TANK AFTER START ON GROUND. #1 AND #2 MAIN FUEL TANKS RUPTURED. APPROXIMATELY 250 TO 500 GALLONS OF FUEL BURNED. BURNED WING OFF OF AIRCRAFT JUST OUTBOARD OF #2 ENGINE NACELLE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC04LA052Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMcGrath, AKA fuel tank explosion in the left wing auxiliary fuel tank, and subsequent fuel fire that occurred during engine start for an undetermined reason.May 8, 2004 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N44911 · 1

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

Incident 19970902029709IClimb · Fairbanks, AKNarrative: after takeoff captain noticed #2 engine cowling had shifted forward and lower forward edge had been hit by the propeller. The #2 engine was shutdown and the aircraft returned to Fairbanks with no further problems. The cowling stayed intact but was…Sep 2, 1997 · Minor damage