Narrative:
Boeing 727 HZ-TFA departed Riyadh at 18:55. Some 17 minutes after takeoff, at FL350, the captain noticed the smell of burning plastic. Thick black smoke was discovered in the master lavatory. While the flight engineer tried to extinguish the fire, an emergency descent was initiated and the aircraft returned to Riyadh. The aircraft landed safely on runway 33L.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A defect in the electronic timer switch allowing continuous operation of the flush motor; the flush motor overheated and the temperature rise was sufficient to ignite combustible electrical components."
Forced landing on runway
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 22 January 1986 |
| Time: | 19:51 |
| Type: |  Boeing 727-21 |
| Operator: | H.H. Prince Faisal Bandar Atturki |
| Registration: | HZ-TFA |
| MSN: | 19006/262 |
| First flight: | 1966-04-27 (19 years 9 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 33000 |
| Engines: | 3 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7B |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 15 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 21 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | near Riyadh ( Saudi Arabia)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Riyadh-King Khalid International Airport (RUH/OERK), Saudi Arabia |
| Jeddah-King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED/OEJN), Saudi Arabia | |
| Flightnumber: | 7994 |
Boeing 727 HZ-TFA departed Riyadh at 18:55. Some 17 minutes after takeoff, at FL350, the captain noticed the smell of burning plastic. Thick black smoke was discovered in the master lavatory. While the flight engineer tried to extinguish the fire, an emergency descent was initiated and the aircraft returned to Riyadh. The aircraft landed safely on runway 33L.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A defect in the electronic timer switch allowing continuous operation of the flush motor; the flush motor overheated and the temperature rise was sufficient to ignite combustible electrical components."
Classification:
Inflight fireForced landing on runway
Sources:
» ICAO Circular 245-AN/147 (1-10)Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Riyadh-King Khalid International Airport to Jeddah-King Abdulaziz International Airport as the crow flies is 847 km (529 miles).
Distance from Riyadh-King Khalid International Airport to Jeddah-King Abdulaziz International Airport as the crow flies is 847 km (529 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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