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inline citations. (July 2013) |
Accident | |
---|---|
Date | April 27, 1977 |
Summary | Maintenance error leading to mechanical failure |
Site | Near Guatemala City, Guatemala |
Aircraft | |
Aircraft type | Convair CV-440 |
Operator | Aviateca |
Registration | TG-ACA |
Occupants | 28 |
Passengers | 22 |
Crew | 6 |
Fatalities | 0 |
Survivors | 28 |
The 1977 Aviateca Convair 240 airplane crash was a scheduled Aviateca passenger flight that crashed near Guatemala City, Guatemala on April 27, 1977. All 28 people on board survived, but the aircraft was destroyed. [1] [2]
The aircraft, a Convair 240, took off from La Aurora International Airport (GUA/MGGT) in Guatemala City as scheduled. During the initial climb to cruise altitude, the number one engine suffered a failure due to oil loss.[ citation needed] The crew was unable to feather the propeller, and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in rough terrain.[ citation needed] The plane was destroyed in the attempt, but none of the 22 passengers and six crew on board were killed. [2]
The government of Guatemala initiated a full investigation. It found that the aircraft had undergone maintenance shortly before the flight. In order to perform the maintenance, it was necessary to disconnect a high-pressure oil hose from the engine cylinders. The hose was not correctly reattached, thus starving the engine of oil. [2]