Investigation Summary
The flight was originally scheduled to be operated by a Boeing aircraft, but mechanical issues necessitated a last-minute equipment swap to the Sud Aviation Caravelle. Shortly after departing runway 27, the No. 2 engine suffered a catastrophic failure. Debris from the 10th stage high-pressure compressor disk burst through the engine casing, cutting through fuel lines. The resulting fire was fed by leaking fuel because the crew reportedly did not immediately shut off the fuel supply to the damaged engine. As the crew attempted to return for an emergency landing on runway 09, the fire breached the pressure bulkhead and reached the hydraulic reservoir. The depletion of hydraulic fluid rendered the flight controls inoperable during the final stages of the approach.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause was the structural failure of the 10th stage compressor disk due to metal fatigue. The secondary cause was the subsequent in-flight fire which, exacerbated by the failure to isolate the fuel supply, led to the total failure of the hydraulic systems and loss of aircraft control.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
10th Stage Compressor Disk
A component of the high-pressure compressor that suffered a fatigue-induced uncontained failure.
Hydraulic System
The fire consumed the hydraulic fluid supply, leading to a total loss of flight control surface movement.
Fuel Supply Lines
Lines spanning the engine structure were severed by compressor debris, providing a continuous source of fuel for the fire.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a replacement for a Boeing jet that had developed its own engine troubles earlier that day.
- 02The 10th stage compressor disk failed due to a pre-existing fatigue crack.
- 03The fire reached the hydraulic reservoir, which was located aft of the pressure bulkhead.
- 04The aircraft crashed approximately 1,000 yards (910 meters) short of the runway threshold.
- 05Notable victims included Malayalam-Tamil actress Rani Chandra, tennis player Jimmy Mehta, and politician R. Ponnappan Nadar.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Engine Inspection Protocols
The accident highlighted the need for more rigorous non-destructive testing of compressor disks to detect fatigue cracks before they reach critical length.