On May 19, 1978, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration VT-DEU) operated by Indian Government was involved in an aviation accident near Badkhalsa, India in flight. 8 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The left engine failed during flight because of a malfunctioning fuel pump. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft conducting a calibration mission for the Indian Civil Aviation Authority crashed near Palam Airport following an engine malfunction.
What happened
During a scheduled calibration flight operating for the Indian Civil Aviation Authority, an aircraft experienced a mechanical emergency while cruising at a low altitude. The flight was performing specialized testing procedures near New Delhi-Palam Airport when the left engine ceased functioning properly.
Following the loss of power, the aircraft entered a left bank and began a rapid descent. The plane subsequently impacted the ground approximately 40 km north of Palam Airport, resulting in a post-impact fire. There were eight fatalities among the occupants on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was an in-flight failure of the left engine. This loss of power was specifically attributed to a malfunction within the fuel pump during a critical phase of the flight operations.
Probable cause
The left engine failed during flight because of a malfunctioning fuel pump.