No fatalities

Engine Failure During Takeoff Leads to Runway Excursion (VH-EAV)

Sydney, AustraliaTakeoff (climb)

On November 17, 1951, an Avro 691 Lancastrian (registration VH-EAV) operated by Qantas Airways - Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services was involved in an aviation accident near Sydney, Australia during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the engine number one during takeoff procedure. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

During takeoff run, a four-engine aircraft veered left, then right after engine failure; right main landing gear collapsed. All seven crew uninjured, aircraft damaged beyond repair.

Event Description

During the takeoff run, the four-engine aircraft deviated to the left. The captain responded by applying right rudder and advancing the throttles, with the number one engine leading to compensate for the deviation. However, the number one engine failed. Despite this corrective action, the airplane went out of control and veered off the runway to the right.

Damage and Injuries

When the aircraft departed the pavement, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft came to rest. All seven crew members were uninjured. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.

Probable Cause

According to the official investigation findings, the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the number one engine during the takeoff procedure.