All Topics  
Samoan Clipper

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Samoan Clipper
 
 
  Topics Samoan Clipper Topic Home

The Samoan Clipper was one of ten Pan American Airways
Pan American World Airways

Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal international airline of the United States from the 1930s until its collapse on December 4, 1991....
 Sikorsky S-42
Sikorsky S-42

The Sikorsky S-42 was an 1930s United States commercial flying boat designed and built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation to meet a 1931 requirement from Pan American World Airways for a long-range transatlantic flying boat....
 flying boat
Flying boat

A flying boat is a specialised form of aircraft that is designed to take off from and land on water, using its fuselage as a floating Hull . Such aircraft are sometimes stabilised on water by underwing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage....
s. It exploded over Pago Pago, American Samoa
Pago Pago, American Samoa

Pago Pago is the Capital town of American Samoa. It is actually a village area that is often mistaken to be a city of this south Pacific territory of the United States....
 on January 11, 1938 while piloted by famous aviator, Ed Musick
Ed Musick

Edwin C. Musick was Chief Pilot for Pan American World Airways and pioneered many of Pan Am's transoceanic routes including the famous route across the Pacific Ocean on the China Clipper....
.

The aircraft developed an engine problem shortly after taking off from Pago Pago Harbor. The S-42 was fully loaded with fuel and exceeding the gross weight maximum for a safe landing. Because of this, Captain Musick elected to dump fuel before attempting an emergency landing.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Samoan Clipper'
Start a new discussion about 'Samoan Clipper'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The Samoan Clipper was one of ten Pan American Airways
Pan American World Airways

Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal international airline of the United States from the 1930s until its collapse on December 4, 1991....
 Sikorsky S-42
Sikorsky S-42

The Sikorsky S-42 was an 1930s United States commercial flying boat designed and built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation to meet a 1931 requirement from Pan American World Airways for a long-range transatlantic flying boat....
 flying boat
Flying boat

A flying boat is a specialised form of aircraft that is designed to take off from and land on water, using its fuselage as a floating Hull . Such aircraft are sometimes stabilised on water by underwing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage....
s. It exploded over Pago Pago, American Samoa
Pago Pago, American Samoa

Pago Pago is the Capital town of American Samoa. It is actually a village area that is often mistaken to be a city of this south Pacific territory of the United States....
 on January 11, 1938 while piloted by famous aviator, Ed Musick
Ed Musick

Edwin C. Musick was Chief Pilot for Pan American World Airways and pioneered many of Pan Am's transoceanic routes including the famous route across the Pacific Ocean on the China Clipper....
.

The aircraft developed an engine problem shortly after taking off from Pago Pago Harbor. The S-42 was fully loaded with fuel and exceeding the gross weight maximum for a safe landing. Because of this, Captain Musick elected to dump fuel before attempting an emergency landing. However, because of the seaplane's weight and reduced power, the S-42 circled the harbor with flaps extended to maintain lift while fuel dumping
Fuel dumping

Fuel dumping from an aircraft is used to lighten the aircraft's weight in certain emergency situations. Fuel is typically jettisoned before a return to the airport shortly after takeoff, or before landing at an airport short of the intended destination....
 was in progress. Apparently, Sikorsky and Pan American had never tested fuel dumping with flaps fully extended. The position of the fuel dump vents on the wing, coupled with the consequent airflow with extended flaps created a back flow of vaporizing fuel which lingered and grew around the trailing edge of the wing.

It is believed that an explosive fuel/air mixture eventually extended to the engine exhaust manifold causing a catastrophic detonation that destroyed the plane in flight.

External links