# NTSB DCA85AA006: Convair 440, N44828, Jasper, AL, December 16, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: December 16, 1984, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Jasper, AL
- Coordinates: 33.820919, -87.289566 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8209&lon=-87.2896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 37 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15825
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA85AA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15825/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA006

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,piston - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly - failure,total (cause)
  - propeller feathering - not possible (contributing factor)
- Fire, cruise
  - engine assembly - fire (cause)
  - fire extinguishing equipment - selected
  - landing gear,tire - overtemperature (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, landing
  - fluid,adi fluid - exhaustion
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - landing gear,tire - failure,total (cause)
  - directional control - not possible (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER CLIMBING & LEVELING AT 6000 FT, THE R ENG BMEP GAGE INDICATED A RAPID POWER LOSS & THE R ENG RPM 'INCREASED OUT OF CONTROL' TO ABOUT 3100 RPM. THE AIRCREW RETARDED THE R THROTTLE & REDUCED THE R ENG TO 2100 PRM BY USING THE PROP INCREASE/DECREASE TOGGLE SW. THE AIRCREW WERE UNABLE TO FEATHER THE R PROP OR MAINTAIN ALT, SO THEY DIVERTED TO THE NEAREST ARPT (WALKER COUNTY). WHILE TURNING DOWNWIND FOR RWY 9, THE R ENG FIRE INDICATOR ACTIVATED & THE COPLT CONFIRMED A FIRE. BOTH FIRE BOTTLES WERE DISCHARGED & THE R PROP STOPPED ROTATING. INJECTION WATER FOR THE L ENG WAS EXHAUSTED & THE L ENG BEGAN BACKFIRING. THE CAPTAIN THEN MANEUVERED & LANDED ON RWY 27. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE R MAIN TIRES FAILED, THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE R SIDE OF THE RWY & HIT A DITCH & THE GEAR COLLAPSED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE #6 CYL LINK ROD &/OR PISTON IN THE R ENG HAD FAILED, RESULTING IN FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENG & #6 CYL. SUBSEQUENTLY, FIRE & HEAT CAUSED THE R ENG TO SEIZE & ALSO DAMGED THE R MAIN TIRES WHICH FAILED AT TOUCHDOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N44828 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CONVAIR 440
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 468
- Engines: P&W R-2800-CB16 2500 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Flight Trails, doing business as Air Resorts Airline
- Registered owner: Flight Trails
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, October 20, 1984, 407 hours before
- Departed: BMH, BIRMINGHAM, AL
- Destination: UOX, OXFORD, MS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: L02, Walker County, runway 27, 4,800 × 100 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 105 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19841216074069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841216074069A), Dec 16, 1984: Cvac 440, Jasper, AL, Destroyed. Pilot made crash landing on airport after unable to feather NR2 prop. Engine on fire and tires blew up on touchdown.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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