Engine failure during training flight at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport

No fatalities • Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, Brazil • Takeoff (climb)

An aircraft experienced an engine failure during a go-around maneuver, resulting in a crash into Guanabara Bay during a training session.

What happened

During a training session involving multiple touch-and-go maneuvers at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, the flight crew was performing a single-engine landing procedure. After the instructor deactivated one engine, the aircraft type experienced a heavy landing on a single wheel, causing it to bounce.

Observing another aircraft entering the runway area, the instructor initiated a go-around procedure by increasing power on the remaining operational engine. Shortly after beginning the initial climb, the second engine suffered a loss of power. This sudden reduction in thrust caused the plane to lose airspeed and enter a stall. The aircraft subsequently struck the mast of a vessel before descending into Guanabara Bay.

Findings

  • The aircraft was destroyed during the impact.
  • Both pilots were successfully rescued following the accident.
  • The primary factor in the loss of altitude was the failure of the second engine during the climb phase.

Probable cause

The loss of power in the remaining engine during a go-around maneuver led to an aerodynamic stall and subsequent crash.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1954-03-04 Curtiss C-46 Commando accident near Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, Brazil?

An aircraft experienced an engine failure during a go-around maneuver, resulting in a crash into Guanabara Bay during a training session.

Were there any fatalities in the 1954-03-04 Curtiss C-46 Commando accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1954-03-04 involved a Curtiss C-46 Commando, registration PP-LPH, operated by Linhas Aéreas Paulistas, at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, Brazil.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The loss of power in the remaining engine during a go-around maneuver led to an aerodynamic stall and subsequent crash.

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