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February 21, 1982 · De Havilland DHC-6 · N127PM

Providence, RI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 21, 1982
Injury Outcomes
12 injuries (1 fatality, 10 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Providence, RI
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-6
Tail Number
N127PM
Operator
Pilgrim Airlines
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA82AA016

APRX 15 MIN AFT TKOF, LGT ICG WAS NOTED ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIRCREW ACTIVATED THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/DEICE SYS WHICH USED ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL. HOWEVER, ONLY A LITTLE DEICING FLUID WAS NOTED ON EITHER SIDE. THE SYS WAS ACTIVATED AGAIN. AFT HLDG THE SW SVRL SECONDS, THE ODOR OF ALCOHOL WAS NOTED.DEICING PROC WAS STOPPED, BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, GRAY-WHITESMOKE BGN COMING FM BLO THE FLOOR. THE AIRCREW BGN DIVERTING. THICK SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN & FIRE BROKE OUT ON THE FLOORBTN THE PLTS AS THE ACFT DSCNDD BLO THE CLDS. THE CO-PLT TRIED TO USE 1 FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT IT WAS TOO HOT. NO ONE ATMTD TO USE THE CABIN EXTINGUISHER. CRSH LNDG WAS MADE ON A FRZN LAKE. ALL BUT 1 OCCUPANT WERE EVCUATED BFR THE PLANE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED TYGON TUBING WAS USED IN THE DEICE SYS. AFT CONTACT WITH ALCOHOL, THE TUBING HARDENS, BCMS MISHAPED AT CONNECTION POINTS & OFTEN RESULTED IN LEAKS. LEAKS WERE REPAIRED BY RMVG ENDS & REATTACHING. A REPAIR WAS MADE ON 2/18/82 IAW DEHAVILLAND PROC. FIRE EXT LCTNS NOT SUF MARKED OR NOTED ON SEATBACK SAFETY CRDS.

Full Narrative

APRX 15 MIN AFT TKOF, LGT ICG WAS NOTED ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIRCREW ACTIVATED THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/DEICE SYS WHICH USED ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL. HOWEVER, ONLY A LITTLE DEICING FLUID WAS NOTED ON EITHER SIDE. THE SYS WAS ACTIVATED AGAIN. AFT HLDG THE SW SVRL SECONDS, THE ODOR OF ALCOHOL WAS NOTED.DEICING PROC WAS STOPPED, BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, GRAY-WHITESMOKE BGN COMING FM BLO THE FLOOR. THE AIRCREW BGN DIVERTING. THICK SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN & FIRE BROKE OUT ON THE FLOORBTN THE PLTS AS THE ACFT DSCNDD BLO THE CLDS. THE CO-PLT TRIED TO USE 1 FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT IT WAS TOO HOT. NO ONE ATMTD TO USE THE CABIN EXTINGUISHER. CRSH LNDG WAS MADE ON A FRZN LAKE. ALL BUT 1 OCCUPANT WERE EVCUATED BFR THE PLANE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED TYGON TUBING WAS USED IN THE DEICE SYS. AFT CONTACT WITH ALCOHOL, THE TUBING HARDENS, BCMS MISHAPED AT CONNECTION POINTS & OFTEN RESULTED IN LEAKS. LEAKS WERE REPAIRED BY RMVG ENDS & REATTACHING. A REPAIR WAS MADE ON 2/18/82 IAW DEHAVILLAND PROC. FIRE EXT LCTNS NOT SUF MARKED OR NOTED ON SEATBACK SAFETY CRDS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:33 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionIflt

Aircraft

AircraftDe Havilland DHC-6
Tail NumberN127PM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPilgrim Airlines
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP & W · PT6A-20 · Turboprop · 570
Seats20

People & Injuries

Injury Summary12 injuries (1 fatality, 10 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal1
Serious10
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total12
Crew 1Age 36 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind50° @ 8 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 1600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point10 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data