Fatal aircraft accident at Belém Airport

6 fatalities • Belém, Brazil • Takeoff (climb)

A flight departing from Belém Airport crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board following an engine malfunction.

What happened

On the morning of the accident, an aircraft departed from Belém Airport at 06:57 local time. The flight was operated with a total of six occupants, consisting of four crew members and two passengers. Shortly after ascending to an altitude between 100 and 250 meters, the pilot identified issues regarding the operation of the left engine.

This malfunction progressed into a sudden loss of power and a violent stall in the left engine, though the propeller remained in motion. During this period, the aircraft's hydraulic pump was inactive, which prevented the landing gear from completing its retraction process. The resulting aerodynamic drag from the partially extended undercarriage made it difficult for the aircraft to sustain its altitude, causing it to descend toward the treeline.

As the aircraft flew at an altitude of approximately 20 to 30 meters, the left wingtip struck a tree, which severed 2.5 meters of the wing and half of the aileron. This impact caused the aircraft to swerve 20 degrees to the left and experience a violent nose-up motion while the right engine was at full power. The aircraft subsequently stalled and impacted the ground roughly 200 meters from the initial strike, leading to a post-crash fire and the explosion of the fuel tanks. There were 6 fatalities.

Findings

The investigation determined that the primary failure occurred within the propeller shaft's front bearing. This mechanical failure triggered a sequence of events that disconnected the reduction gear from the left propeller, resulting in the sudden engine failure.

Probable cause

The failure of the propeller shaft's front bearing led to the disconnection of the reduction gear and the subsequent loss of power in the left engine.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1955-12-01 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Belém, Brazil?

A flight departing from Belém Airport crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board following an engine malfunction.

Were there any fatalities in the 1955-12-01 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 6 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1955-12-01 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration PP-CCC, operated by Cruzeiro do Sul, at Belém, Brazil.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The failure of the propeller shaft's front bearing led to the disconnection of the reduction gear and the subsequent loss of power in the left engine.

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