Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The seaplane departed Florianópolis at 0730LT on a rescue and assistance mission to the crew of another aircraft who was in difficulties over the Santa Catarina Island. About an hour later, while returning to its base, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed in flames in Costeira do Pirajubaé, about 5 km north of Florianópolis Airport. The captain was seriously injured while five other crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Alcione Eliodoro Viana,
Lt Roberto Bernardino Navarro,
Lt Jean Clovis Fagundes Jucenwiski,
2nd Lt Benedito Antonio Gualdetti,
Sgt Jose Carlos dos Santos Pinto,
Sgt Gilberto Ombruschi.

Crash of a Grumman M-16 Albatross in Itacajá

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1979 at 0755 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

6539

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Carolina - Florianópolis

MSN:

G-45

YOM:

1950

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9777

Captain / Total hours on type:

6270.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1128

Copilot / Total hours on type:

997

Circumstances:

En route from Carolina to Florianópolis, while cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the right engine failed due to a major oil leak. The crew of two, the only occupant, shut down the right engine and feathered its propeller. Despite full power was added on the left engine, the crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude and was forced to jettison some of the cargo and auxiliary tanks as well. Finally, the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field but on short final, the left engine lost power. This caused the undercarriage to be lowered too late and upon touchdown, they were not locked down. The aircraft crash landed and skidded on its belly before coming to rest. While both pilots were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the failure of the right engine was the consequence of a major oil leak on the head of the cylinder n°9 due to an important accumulation of steel and aluminium deposit in the internal part of the engine. It was also reported that the lubrication system was inoperative due to the failure of a hydraulic pump. Due to poor weather conditions in the area, it was not possible for the crew to attempt an emergency landing in the Tocantins River and the terrain chosen for the emergency procedure was not compatible and suitable for such aircraft type, which aggravated the damages upon landing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman M-16 Albatross at Ponta Pelada AFB

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

6541

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Ponta Pelada - Ponta Pelada

MSN:

G-51

YOM:

1951

Location:

Ponta Pelada AFB, Manaus

Amazonas

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a reconnaissance flight after a small plane was missing in the region of Roraima. Shortly after takeoff from Ponta Pelada AFB, while in initial climb, the airplane suffered technical problems, stalled and crashed 1,500 meters past the runway end. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine propeller for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Grumman SHU-16B Albatross near Antofagasta: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

571

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Antofagasta - Antofagasta

MSN:

G-251

YOM:

1953

Location:

Antofagasta

Región de Antofagasta

Country:

Chile

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to Antofagasta Airport following a maritime patrol exercice. While descending at dusk, the seaplane struck the slope of Mt Moreno located about 12 km west of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all six occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Patricio de Andraca, pilot,
Lt Patricio Yánez, copilot,
Lt Raúl Castillo, navigator,
Osvaldo Alvarado, flight engineer,
Hernán González, radio operator,
Cpt José Gallardo, mechanic.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16A Albatross off Puerto Cortés NAS: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1977 at 2245 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

MP-301

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after a night takeoff from Puerto Cortés NAS, while climbing, the seaplane aircraft lost height and crashed into the sea. Five crew members were rescued while three others were killed.

Crash of a Grumman SA-16B Albatross off Cabo de Palos: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

AN.1A-1

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

G-148

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Mediterranean sea off Cabo de Palos. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16A Albatross near Manado: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

PB-518

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

G-437

YOM:

1960

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in bad weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and was destroyed. All 10 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16B Albatross near Quilpué: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

251

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, a technical problem occurred on the fuel supply system, causing a loss of engine power. The captain elected to fly over the mountains surrounding Quilpué on one engine but the seaplane struck a hill and crashed. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured.

Probable cause:

Loss of engine power caused by a technical problem on the fuel supply system.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16E Albatross into the Gulf of Mexico: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

2123

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi

MSN:

G-350

YOM:

1953

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

This crew was dropping parachute flares to illuminate a search area when one of the flares accidentally ignited in the aircraft. Intense smoke incapacitated the pilots and crew and the aircraft became uncontrolled and crashed into the sea. All six crew members were killed.
LCDR Francis W. Miller,
LTJG Jerald M. Mack,
AD1 Harold D. Brown Jr.,
AM2 Benjamin R. Gaskins Jr.,
AT2 John F. Harrison,
AT2 John P. Pledger.