Sikorsky S-42 - Accidents and Incidents

Accidents and Incidents

On January 11, 1938, a Sikorsky S-42, named the Samoan Clipper (formerly Pan American Clipper II) and operating as Pan Am Flight 1, exploded over Pago Pago. The flying boat developed an engine problem shortly after takeoff. The pilot elected to dump fuel before making an emergency landing, but due to the weight of the aircraft, the flaps were fully extended to maintain lift while fuel dumping was in progress. This method of fuel dumping had not been tested by Sikorsky and Pan Am; eventually, the fuel/air mixture created by the airflow over the wings extended to the exhaust manifold, which led to a catastrophic detonation that destroyed the aircraft in flight. All seven crew members (including famous aviator, Captain Ed Musick), died in the crash.

On July 27, 1943, a Pan Am Sikorsky S-42B named the Bermuda Clipper (formerly Pan American Clipper III) caught fire while docked at Manaus; there was no one on board.

On August 8, 1944, a Sikorsky S-42, named the Hong Kong Clipper (formerly West Indies Clipper and Pan Am Clipper I) and operating as Pan Am Flight 218 on a return trip from San Juan to Miami with intermediate stops at Port-au-Prince and Antilla, Cuba, crashed shortly after taking off from Antilla. After striking, bow first, the flying boat left the water in a slightly nose-high attitude, then returned, and by the third time, stalled. There were 17 fatalities (all passengers) out of the 26 passengers and five crew.