Page:CAB Accident Report, Western Air Lines Flight 221.pdf/6

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the mounting and the forward section of the engine drooped at an angle of approximately seven degrees.

The No. 1 engine cowling and propeller dome spinner were damaged by propeller fragments. All three blades of the No. 1 propeller were bent slightly forward and approximately 1/2 inch of the taps were ground off. Blade angles at impact, determined by shim plate markings, were approximately 33 degrees. Low pitch setting is 30 degrees.

The No. 2 engine propeller assembly was heavily damaged by impact. Propeller blade angles at impact, determined by shim plate marks, were 36, 33, and 36 degrees for blades Nos. 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The propeller governor was separated from the nose case and received minor impact damage. It was at the takeoff setting of 2700 г.p.m.

The left main landing gear doors were abraded on the outer and inner panels. The inboard wheel hydraulic brake line of the left main landing gear was separated from the manifold at the fitting. There was no damage to the nose gear or right main landing gear assemblies.

No abraded areas were found on the fuselage undersurfaces or on the tail skid.

There was no evidence of malfunction or failure of the aircraft or any of its components prior to impact.

Runway 25L at Los Angeles International Airport is 12,000 feet long and 200 feet wide, with a displaced threshold[1] 650 feet west of the approach end. The ground elevation at the approach end of the runway is 91.4 feet and the effective runway gradient 1s 0.27 percent.

A standard configuration "A" approach lighting system with sequenced flashing (strobe) laghts is installed for this runway. High intensity, directional, runway lights parallel both sides of the runway, 10 feet outboard of the runway edge, and spaced 200 feet apart.

At the time of the accident all components of the approach and runway lighting systems were on and operating at their highest intensity setting (step 5). The runway lights were positioned to the east.

The published ILS approach minimums for runway 25L were 200 feet ceiling and


  1. The threshold is displaced 650 feet to the west in order to provide proper approach clearance for aircraft above ground obstacles located near the approach end of the runway.