Portal:Civil Aeronautics Board

“ This brief review of the mechanical discrepancies on this aircraft indicates unsatisfactory maintenance and overhaul practices. The Board therefore recommends that the maintenance and overhaul procedures and practices of Standard Airways and any other maintenance agencies involved be reviewed for compliance with current regulations and accepted practices. ”

“ First Officer Merlo has a total of approximately 9,000 flying hours of which 2,500 hours are in L-1049G/H type aircraft. He satisfactorily completed his last FAA flight proficiency check on December 31, 1962. He held an FAA first-class medical certificate dated October 12, 1962 with the following limitation, The holder shall possess correcting glasses for near vision while exercising the privileges of his airman's certificate. ”

“ Since the causes of these malfunctions have now been corrected and in view of the fact that the propeller incorporates an electrical low pitch stop actuated by blade angle to prevent unwanted travel below the stop, there ls no evidence to support a mandatory requirement to back up the electrical low pitch stop with a mechanical low pitch stop, which, while contributing little to safety, would impose a considerable financial penalty on the affected operators. ”

“ The subject flight was conducted under a provision which authorized the carrier to engage in interstate, overseas, and foreign air transportation, pursuant; to contracts will the Department of Defense. ”

“ The analysis also stated these conditions would permit the centrifugal forces on the blades to move them to the flat pitch position and beyond. Action by this Agency resulted in issuance of Airworthiness Directives 58-25-2 and 59-7-1 requiring inspection of the old motor and speed-reducer spline couplings and AD 59-18-3 which required installation of modified oilbath-lubricated spline couplings. ”