# NTSB ANC83FA080: Curtiss-Wright C-46F, N1822M, King Salmon, AK, May 21, 1983 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 1983, 11:46 local (19:46 UTC) - Place: King Salmon, AK - Coordinates: 58.750274, -156.539825 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.7503&lon=-156.5398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 4025 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83FA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4025/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83FA080 ## Analysis THE COPLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT HAD BEEN IN LEVEL CRUISE FLT APRX 1 MIN WHEN THEY FELT A VIBRATION, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG. THE AIRCREW SAW FIRE & SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT ENG, SO THEY SHUT DOWN THE ENG & FEATHERED THE PROPELLER. THE PLT ALSO ACTIVATED THE FIRE WALL CUTOFF SYS & THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, WHICH HE SAID, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE AIRCREW DIVERTED BACK TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, BUT WHEN THEY TRIED TO EXTEND THE GEAR, THE LEFT MAIN FAILED TO EXTEND & THE RIGHT MAIN ONLY PARTIALLY EXTENDED. THE RIGHT MAIN COULD NOT BE RETRACTED, SO THE ACFT WAS LANDED WITH THE GEAR IN THAT POSITION. AFTER A CRASH LANDING, AIR FORCE CRASH/RESCUE PERSONNEL EXTINGUISHED AN ON-GOING FIRE IN THE LEFT ENG. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE #8 CYLINDER, PN 113149, HAD FAILED. SUBSEQUENTLY; FIRE HAD BURNT THE HYDRAULIC OPERATED COWL FLAPS & HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS PUMPED OVERBOARD. THE MANUAL/HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED GEAR UPLOCKS ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR OPERATED, BUT HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR BECAME DEPLETED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - engine assembly,cylinder - failure,total (cause) - propeller feathering - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Fire, cruise - fire extinguishing equipment - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - hydraulic system - burned (contributing factor) - hydraulic system - leak (contributing factor) - fluid,hydraulic - exhaustion (contributing factor) - landing gear - inoperative (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - wheels up landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1822M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1822M), registered now, S/N 22521, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CURTISS-WRIGHT C-46F - Registry model: [Curtiss Wright C-46F](https://openairdocs.org/model/curtiss-wright-c-46f) (registry code 2622608) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-2800 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-2800-series) (registry code 52026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22521 - Airframe hours: 24875 - Engines: P&W R-2800-S1M1 2250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Part 125 - Registered owner: Woods Air Fuel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, January 14, 1983, 99 hours before - Airport: AKN, King Salmon, runway 11, 8,500 × 150 ft, macadam ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 18,200 total, 5,300 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 12 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AKN ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19830521025299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830521025299A), May 21, 1983: Curtis C46FAIRLIFT, King Salmon, AK, Substantial damage. Blew a cylinder on left engine. Used fire bottle. Fire melted hydraulic line. Gear up landing. No hydraulic fluid. ## Other investigations on N1822M (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC18CA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18CA054), Jul 16, 2018: Curtiss Wright C46 (N1822M), Manley Hot Springs, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown speed and his decision to land with a tailwind without ensuring that there was adequate runway length for the touchdown. - [NTSB ANC01LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA009), Oct 5, 2000: Curtis-Wright C-46F (N1822M), Port Alsworth, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance during taxi. A factor associated with the accident was trees. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.