DCA82AA016

NTSB accident investigation · de Havilland DHC-6 · Providence, RI · February 21, 1982

Accident · FatalFinal report
Date
February 21, 1982, 15:33 local (20:33 UTC)
Place
Providence, RI
Injuries
1 fatal, 10 serious, 1 minor
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N127PMde Havilland DHC-6
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 21, 1983
Report
Board-adopted at Board Meeting
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Safety recommendations
Yes
FAA report
19820221000689A
Case key
72317

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

FireCruise - normal
Maintenance - inadequateCompany maintenance personnelCause
Supervision - inadequateCompany/operator managementCause
Acft/equip,inadequate aircraft componentManufacturerCause
Anti-ice/deice system,windshield - brittle fractureCause
Anti-ice/deice system,windshield - leakCause
Fuselage,crew compartment - fireCause
Fuselage,crew compartment - smokeFactor
Fuselage,cabin - smokeFactor
Forced landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Instructions,written/verbal - inadequateFactor
Fire extinguishing equipment - not identifiedPassengerFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Terrain condition - icy

Analysis

Aprx 15 min aft tkof, lgt icg was noted on the windshield. The aircrew activated the windshield washer/deice sys which used isopropyl alcohol. However, only a little deicing fluid was noted on either side. The sys was activated again. Aft hldg the sw svrl seconds, the odor of alcohol was noted. Deicing proc was stopped, but shortly thereafter, gray-whitesmoke bgn coming fm blo the floor. The aircrew bgn diverting. Thick smoke filled the cabin & fire broke out on the floorbtn the plts as the acft dscndd blo the clds. The co-plt tried to use 1 fire extinguisher, but it was too hot. No one atmtd to use the cabin extinguisher. Crsh lndg was made on a frzn lake. All but 1 occupant were evcuated bfr the plane was destroyed by fire. An investigation revealed tygon tubing was used in the deice sys. Aft contact with alcohol, the tubing hardens, bcms mishaped at connection points & often resulted in leaks. Leaks were repaired by rmvg ends & reattaching. A repair was made on 2/18/82 iaw Dehavilland proc. Fire ext lctns not suf marked or noted on seatback safety crds.

Aircraft

Registration
N127PM
Reported as
de Havilland DHC-6
Category
Airplane
Serial number
105
Engine
P & W PT6A-20, 570 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
In-Flight
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Pilgrim Airlines
Registered owner
Pilgrim Airlines
Departed
C · Groton, CT
Destination
C · Boston, MA
Flight plan
IFR

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
36
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Flight hours
6,500 total · 2,700 in this make and model · 260 in the last 90 days · 86 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
50° at 8 knots
Visibility
5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,600 ft broken
Temperature
104 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.