Prevailing Cultural / Organizational Factors

The Viscount was among the first turbine powered aircraft in commercial service. The new technology exposed many vulnerabilities that had not been envisioned by the existing regulations. Environmental hazards such as birds, ice, and hail were soon discovered to represent hazards for turbine engines that had not been hazardous for reciprocating powered airplanes. It was also discovered that the windmilling drag of turbopropeller airplanes was higher than for piston powered airplanes, and had a more adverse effect on airplane performance, especially during takeoff and landing/go-around. This resulted in a focus on rapidly acting automatic feathering systems in order to minimize the performance impacts. This accident exposed the additional vulnerability of allowing autofeather systems to operate independently, and affect all engines simultaneously.

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