Page:CAB Accident Report, Riddle Airlines Flight 402.pdf/1



ADOPTED: August 26, 1959

On March 30, 1959, at approximately 2346, near Alma, an intense uncontrollable fire occurred in a Riddle Airlines, Inc., C-46R, N 7840B destroying the integrity of the flight control system of the aircraft and causing it to crash.

Prior to the crash the fire was observed by ground witnesses when it burned through the fuselage, allowing burning cargo and debris to be scattered over a large area, After making several left circles, the burning aircraft plunged to the ground. The pilot and copilot, the only occupants, received fatal injuries. A ground fire then partially consumed the wreckage.

The Board believes that this fire was started by ignition of combustible cargo In the aft lower cargo compartment through contact with an unguarded light bulb, It is believed the fire then breached the compartment wall and damaged a hydraulic unit or line in the wing center section area at the rear spar, igniting the flammable hydraulic fluid.

As a result of this accident, the company has installed guards on all cargo compartment lights in its C-46R aircraft. In addition, the lights have been rewired and a switch has been installed on the flight deck. A company procedure has been instituted to require these cargo compartment lights to be off during flight. The company has also instituted a program to design and install both fire detection and fire extinguishing equipment in these lower cargo compartments. Several other equipment modifications are planned as a result of this investigation. These changes, which will add substantially to the safety of the aircraft, are discussed in the report.

Investigation

Riddle A1rlines Might 402 is a regularly scheduled flight from Miami, Florida, to Chicago, Illinois, with Intermediate stops at Orlando and Atlanta. The crew for the trip of March 30, Captain B. P. Nesselhaus and First Offloar R. H. Gillespie, made normal preparations for the flight.

Flight 402 blocked in at the Riddle cargo terminal at Orlando at 2120. No maintenance was performed on the aircraft other than routine servicing of SCOMM-DC-25086