Hawaii

During takeoff at about 50 feet agl and 4,000 feet down runway 04R, the right engine lost power. According to the pilot, his airspeed was 105 mph and the right engine 'popped' before it lost power. He also stated that power on the left engine deteriorated after the the right prop was feathered. The aircraft went into a right bank and the pilot maintained control of the aircraft until impact with the water. Examination of the right engine revealed that the right magneto, american bosch sb9ru-3, ser #b88470, was not timed correctly. Disassembly of the magneto revealed that all except 11 distributor gear teeth were stripped off. At the time of the power loss of the right engine, about 5,000 feet of rwy was remaining.

About one minute after takeoff, between 400-500 feet msl and during the first power reduction, the right engine backfired. Following some more violent backfires the rpm went to zero. The right engine was restarted but the same result occurred. The pilot attempted to feather the right prop but to no avail. The aircraft was then deliberately ditched to avoid an outcropping of lava. The aircraft came to rest in about 25-30 feet of water. Engine inspection revealed that the #2 cylinder exhaust rocker arm shaft, p/n45937, was missing. Drive train continuity was established with the exception of the #2 exhaust valve. Centrifugal stops prevent feathering of the prop below an engine speed of 500 rpm. All 10 occupants were rescued.

During arrival, a descent was begun from 8,000 to 7,000 feet msl at 0151 hst. At 0155 hst, the aircrew was cleared for a visual approach from 7,000 feet msl and a rapid descent was started with 20° of flaps and approximately 25 inches ap (manifold pressure). The aircraft was maneuvered to intercept the ILS localizer and glide slope as a reference. After intercepting the glide slope at about 3,000 feet, the pilot-in-command (pic) called for 2,250 rpm and gear extension. While descending thru approximately 2,000 feet, he noticed the aircraft slowing down and descending below the glide slope, so he called for a power increase to 27 inches map. At about that time, the aircrew noted that the engines were not responding and had lost power. Subsequently, a forced landing was made in a sugar cane field with the gear in a transient position. The fuel selectors were found positioned to fuel tanks containing fuel, but the positioning during the descent was not verified. The temperature and dew point were 72° 65° F. This would have been barely within the envelope for carburetor ice on icing probability charts. All three occupants were uninjured.

The four engine airplane departed Barbers Point NAS on a night training exercise consisting of a support of ships cruising off Kauai Island. While cruising in limited visibility at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact. The wreckage was found on a steep ridge (Kalepa Ridge between Honopu and Kalalau valleys) on the Na Pali Coast of Kauai. All 14 occupants were killed. The pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient and did not see the mountain.

For unknown reasons, the four engine airplane landed on its belly at Barbers Point NAS. It slid for few dozen yards then veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The purpose of the flight was to be a reindoctrination/training flight for the second-in-command. Witnesses observed the aircraft off shore flying parallel to the cliffs approximately 500 feet over the water. The aircraft banked left then right to a 90° right wing low attitude wing-over type maneuver and descend into the ocean off Waimanalo. The aircraft was not recovered. All three occupants were killed.

The aircraft departed Hilo on the last leg of a three flight. A few minutes after takeoff, the pilot called the tower to ask for return and indicated he had a difficulty. No further transmission was made. Witnesses heard intermittent engine sputtering and then the whine of a high speed dive. The aircraft impacted in a sugar cane field at a steep angle. Both pilots were killed.

After liftoff, the pilot called for the landing gear to be raised. As the plane was climbing through about 100 feet agl, the pilot noted a loss of power in the right engine and saw a fire light. Ground witnesses heard a muffled explosion and saw smoke and fire trailing from the right engine. The right engine was feathered and the pilot attempted to return to the airport, but was unable to maintain altitude. The plane was ditched near the entrance of Pearl Harbor. A tear down of the right engine revealed that the top ring lands of the n° 10 and n°14 pistons were broken and the top ring was missing from each of the pistons. Also, the rear counterbalance drive intermediate gear was worn and 11 gear teeth were missing. Additionally, the rear counterbalance drive gear was worn.

The twin engine airplane departed Honolulu Airport to take part to a local airshow, carrying 11 skydivers and one pilot. While making a turn toward the jump area, the airplane entered a spin. Four occupants parachuted before the airplane crashed in Pearl Harbour. Only one passenger survived the crash and was seriously injured while 11 other occupants were killed. The airplane was destroyed.

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a delivery flight, the airplane being transferred to its new owner. In unclear circumstances, the aircraft crashed into the sea off Honolulu. Despite intensive search, the aircraft and the pilot were not recovered.