CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD
WASHINGTON, D. C.
*2*
Arriving on the apron in front of the hangar, the tail wheel was unlocked to permit the aircraft to be turned to the right with the tail toward the hanger doors which was the usual unloading position. However, immediately upon unlocking the tail wheel the aircraft began to weathercock slowing to the left toward the closed hangar doors where three men of the servicing crew were standing. Brakes were applied but were found to be inoperative. The pilot cut the master switch and the master controllers were moved to the idle cut-off position. The left wing tip struck the hanger first, swinging the aircraft further to the left and toward the servicing crew who were directly in the path of the left propeller which was still turning from its momentum. Two of the crew jumped clear while the third man was struck by the revolving propeller as he stood watching the left wing tip being crushed against the hanger. He received injuries which proved fatal. The left wing and center nose section of the aircraft was damaged extensively. Inspection of the hydraulic system disclosed that the oil pressure in the brake system was lost due to a broken tube flare at the left cowl flap control valve, thereby rendering the wheel brake mechanism inoperative.
A subsequent investigation disclosed that the fatally injured man had been employed by Pan American Airways, Inc., only twelve days prior to the accident.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Pilot lost control of aircraft while taxying to loading ramp due to cross wind and inoperative wheel brakes.
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