What happened
During a nighttime mail delivery mission traveling from Syracuse toward New York, the crew of an unidentified aircraft type experienced significant mechanical difficulties involving one of the engines. As the technical malfunction prevented the plane from sustaining a safe flight altitude, the crew made the decision to discard the cargo from the aircraft to reduce weight.
Despite these efforts, the flight could not be maintained, and the airplane eventually impacted trees before crashing on land in Milford, New York. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. Both members of the crew sustained injuries during the accident, with one person suffering serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified a failure within the powerplant, specifically involving the blower and impeller assembly. The breakdown was attributed to several interconnected factors:
- A failure in the impeller bearing
- Insufficient lubrication on certain components
- Material failure within the assembly
- Damage to the impeller and related parts caused by the bearing malfunction
- The presence of high obstructions
- The necessity of a forced landing away from an airport
- The decision to jettison the flight load