What happened
During an attempt at a jet-assisted takeoff, a LC-47 equipped with skis experienced a mechanical failure involving its propulsion augmentation equipment. As the aircraft was accelerating, a JATO (jet-assisted take-off) canister was inadvertently released while it was still actively firing.
The released canister struck the propeller of the LC-47, causing significant structural damage to the engine components. The impact rendered the aircraft non-operational, and it was subsequently declared a total loss.
Findings
- There were 0 fatalities and no injuries reported during the incident.
- The primary cause of the damage was the accidental release of a pressurized canister while still in operation, which led to direct contact with the aircraft's propeller.