Accident Details
The five crew members were engaged in a local training mission at Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport. During the takeoff roll on three engines, the pilot-in-command lost control of the aircraft, which deviated to the right and departed the asphalt surface. The right wing struck a mound 9 feet high located 188 feet to the right of the runway. The impact caused both right engines (numbers 3 and 4) to be torn off. The aircraft subsequently caught fire and came to rest in flames. All five crew members were slightly injured, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the accident resulted from a combination of factors. During a three-engine practice takeoff, the check pilot applied full takeoff thrust on engines 2 and 3. The aircraft accelerated on two engines, and when the speed of 85 knots was attained, the pilot experienced little difficulty maintaining directional control. Thereafter, the pilot applied thrust on engine 1. The aircraft then veered off the runway to the right, and engines 3 and 4 struck a 9-foot-high mound located 188 feet from the edge of the runway, causing them to be torn off. The wing structure progressively broke off inward, and an intense fire broke out.
The check pilot admitted that he did not follow the normal procedure specified by Boeing for a three-engine takeoff. Due to an incorrect reading of the airspeed, he attempted to become airborne before reaching Vr. Because the nose had been lifted prematurely, nose wheel steering could not be used, and control of the aircraft using rudder alone could not be maintained when power on engine 1 was applied. The investigation concluded that the accident was caused by a loss of control during an attempted three-engine takeoff, and the loss of control was the consequence of the pilot not following the published procedures as mentioned in the aircraft flight manual.