NC-41880 — accident record & aircraft history

We’re still collecting data for this aircraft. Routes appear once we’ve seen it fly enough times.

Safety history

October 3, 1942Accident
The Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was the "inadvertent actuation of the wing flaps to the full 35° 'down' position during the take-off run, thereby rendering the aircraft excessively nose-heavy and uncontrollable." The Board found a contributing factor was the "absence of the required stop-spring on the flap control switch which was for the sole purpose of preventing inadvertent application of the 35° flap."
Sikorsky 44A · 11 fatalities
The copilot was in command at the time of the accident. While climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea due to a false trailing edge flaps position to 35°. According to investigations, it appears that crew did not complete the preflight briefing and the copilot was not sufficiently familiarized with this type of aircraft. Full accident record