NTSB Identification: CHI87MA101.
The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 34765.
Scheduled 14 CFR operation of AMERICAN AIRLINES
Accident occurred Wednesday, March 25, 1987 in CHICAGO, IL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/08/1988
Aircraft: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10, registration: N128AA
Injuries: 1 Serious,5 Minor,171 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.AFTER ARRIVING AT THE GATE IN CHICAGO, FUMES & SMOKE WERE NOTED IN ZONE C OF THE CABIN, THEN THE CABIN LGTG WENT OUT & THE EMERG LGTG CAME ON. MAINT PSNL FND THE #2 APU HAD AN AUTO-SHUTDOWN DUE TO A MALFUNCTION. THE APU WAS PLACARDED AS INOP & THE ACFT WAS RTRND TO SVC. AS IT WAS CLBG, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, SMOKE BCM NOTICEABLE & THE CREW ELECTED TO RTRNTO THE ARPT & LND. AFTER LNDG, THE SMOKE HAD DISSIPATED & FIRE DEPT PSNL RPRTD NO INDCN OF SMOKE OR FIRE. SUSPECTING ONLY AN AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM, THE CREW ELECTED TO CONT TO THE GATE. AS THEY BGN TAXIING, A FLT ATTENDANT RPRTD THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING, SO THE CAPT STOPPED THE ACFT & DIRECTED AN EVACUATION. A X-WIND PREVENTED PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THESLIDES ON THE RGT SIDE OF THE ACFT. DRG THE EVACUATION, AN ELDERLY PAX, USING SLIDE L-4 ON THE LEFT SIDE, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED BY OTHERS WHO CAME DOWN THE SLIDE AFTER HIM. ALSO, 5 PAX RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES DRG EVACUATION. AN INV REVEALEDTHE SMOKE WAS CAUSED BY OIL FROM A FAILED APU BEARING WHICH LEAKED INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING SYS.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT..IMPROPER USE OF
Contributing Factors
WEATHER CONDITION..UNFAVORABLE WIND
Contributing Factors
AUXILIARY POWER UNIT..FAILURE,TOTAL
Contributing Factors
FLUID,OIL..LEAK
Contributing Factors
MAINTENANCE..INADEQUATE..COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL
Contributing Factors
AIR COND/HEATING/PRESSURIZATION..SMOKE
Index for Mar1987 | Index of months