Tragedy at MacArthur Airport: The United Airlines DC-6 Crash of 1955
On a clear day in April 1955, the skies over Long Island were witness to an accident that would change aviation safety forever. A United Airlines Douglas DC-6 named Mainliner Idaho crashed shortly after taking off from MacArthur Airport, leaving all on board dead.
The Simulated Engine Failure and Its Consequences
Imagine a routine flight turned into a nightmare when the crew was conducting a simulated engine failure procedure. This involved pulling back the throttle lever for engine No. 4 prior to takeoff. But what if that simple action had unforeseen consequences? The throttle lever, meant to slow the aircraft upon landing, was pulled too far, causing the propeller to reverse. This feature, designed to be a safety measure, turned into a deadly flaw.
The Investigation and Its Findings
After the crash, an investigation revealed that one of the flight crew applied full power to No. 4 engine, thinking this would bring the aircraft out of the increasing bank. However, because the blades were reversed and the flag was not raised, it increased the reverse thrust from No. 4 engine, causing the DC-6 to spiral out of control.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) issued an Airworthiness Directive ordering all DC-6 and DC-6B aircraft to be fitted with a manual device which could prevent the inadvertent reversal of the propeller blades. United Airlines also stated they had begun installing reverse thrust indicator lights in the cockpits of their DC-6 aircraft, which would warn pilots when a propeller had reversed.
The Crew and Aircraft Details
On that fateful day, the crew consisted of three experienced pilots: Stanley C. Hoyt, Henry M. Dozier, and Vernis H. Webb. The aircraft was powered by four Pratt & Whitney R2800-CB16 engines, fitted with Hamilton Standard 43E60-317 propellers. The weather was clear, but a strong wind of about 20 knots hit the airfield from the southwest.
The DC-6 made a normal takeoff and climbed normally before banking sharply to the right at around 150 feet. The nose of the aircraft fell, causing the wings to impact the ground, resulting in a fire that destroyed the plane. All three crew members were killed instantly.
Technical Analysis and Lessons Learned
The investigation found that all four engines were producing power at the time of impact, with no evidence of operational failure or faults in the flight control system. The propellers had been reversed by 8° before takeoff, which may have contributed to the accident.
Flight tests showed that propellers produced increased reverse thrust if power was applied after becoming airborne. Aviation author wrote that a DC-6 becomes uncontrollable with an outboard engine at full power and a reversed propeller in take-off configuration. Investigations concluded that reversal of propellers and increase in power caused the accident due to lack of time for crew to react.
The Safety Measures Implemented
United Airlines began installing the Martin bar, a metal bar that manually swings over the thrust levers to prevent reverse thrust during takeoff or landing. This device was seen as a safer and more reliable alternative than existing systems. However, the aircraft involved in the Mainliner Idaho crash was still without it at the time of the accident.
The airline also mentioned that a program to install reverse thrust indicator lights had begun on its DC-6 and DC-6B fleet. These lights would warn pilots when a propeller had reversed, giving them crucial seconds to react before disaster struck.
Similar Accidents and Their Impact
The Mainliner Idaho crash was not an isolated incident. Similar accidents involving reverse thrust have occurred in the past, including United Airlines Flight 859 in 1961, Japan Airlines Flight 350 in 1982, Lauda Air Flight 004 in 1991, and TAM Airlines Flight 104 in 1996. Each of these accidents highlighted the need for improved safety measures to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
The story of the Mainliner Idaho serves as a stark reminder of how even the smallest oversight can have catastrophic consequences. It underscores the importance of continuous improvement in aviation safety and the need for robust preventive measures to safeguard lives.
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This page is based on the article 1955 MacArthur Airport United Air Lines crash published in Wikipedia (retrieved on January 11, 2025) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
