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| Date: | Wednesday 6 February 1985 |
| Time: | 09:43 |
| Type: |  Cessna 402B |
| Owner/operator: | Altus Airlines |
| Registration: | N5780M |
| MSN: | 402B0348 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1973 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6100 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental TSIO-520-E |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Altus, OK -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Altus, OK (AXS) |
| Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
DURING AN ENG START, PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE L ENG BACKFIRED 2 OR 3 TIMES. A WITNESS DESCRIBED THE 1ST BACKFIRED AS 'THE LOUDEST I HAVE EVER HEARD.' WHEN THE ACFT TOOK OFF, TWO PERSONS LIVING NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY NOTED THAT THE ACFT (BELIEVED TO BE THE SAME) SOUNDED DIFFERENT & HAD A 'CLUTTERING SOUND. 'WHILE CLIMBING, THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & REPORTED A FIRE IN THE L ENG. HE WAS VECTORED TOWARD ALTUS AFB WHILE DSCNDG IN IFR CONDITIONS. HE DSCNDD INTO VFR CONDITIONS & SAW THE airport ABOUT 3 MI AWAY. A WITNESS SAW SMOKE & FIRE TRAILING FROM THE VICINITY OF THE L ENG. HE STATED THAT THE ACFT'S NOSE CAME UP, THE PLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT, THEN IT ENTERED A STEEP, NOSE DOWN, INVERTED ATTITUDE JUST BEFORE IT CRASHED & BURNED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ENG EXHAUST MAINIFOLD HEADER ASSY HAD FAILED & ALLOWED HOT EXHAUST GASES TO ESCAPE IN THE ENG NACELLE IN THE VICINITY OF FUEL & OIL LINES. CORROSION HAD PROGRESSED THRU THE HEADER ASSY. AD 75-23-08 REQD GEN INSPN, BUT CONTAINED NOTE 'DO NOT REMOVE CLAMPS.' NO RECORD OF REPLACEMENT IN 6100 HRS CAUSE:
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001214X35690
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 28-Mar-2012 03:51 | Anon. | Updated [Operator, ] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:22 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency, ] |
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