Statuts:	Enquête Officielle
Date:	10 AOU 1986
Heure:	07:15 CDT
Type/Sous-type:	McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40
Compagnie:	American Trans Air
Immatriculation:	N184AT
Numéro de série:	46751/36
Année de Fabrication:	1973
Heures de vol:	29155
Moteurs:	3 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-20
Equipage:	victimes: 0 / à bord: 0
Passagers:	victimes: 0 / à bord: 0
Total:	victimes: 0 / à bord: 0
Dégats de l'appareil:	Détruit
Conséquences:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Lieu de l'accident:	Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD) (Etats-Unis d'Amérique)
Phase de vol:	En attente (STD)
Nature:	Inconnu
Aéroport de départ:	Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), Etats-Unis d'Amérique
Aéroport de destination:	Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD/KORD), Etats-Unis d'Amérique
Numéro de vol:	131

Détails:
The DC-10 was unloaded following a charter flight. Company maintenance personnel had placed damaged passenger seatbacks (incorporating solid-state chemical oxygen generators) in the forward cargo hold with seat covers and oil. A company mechanic examined the seatbacks to find a serviceable unit. He encountered a loose oxygen generator, which he handled improperly by its oxygen hose. The generator went off by accident, generating a 430deg C heat. Seat covers ignited and the fire eventually burned through the cabin floor. The cabin was soon engulfed in flames.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "
Oxygen system .. information insufficient .. company maintenance personnel
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Supervision .. improper .. company/operator management
Lack of familiarity with aircraft .. company/operator management
Tie down .. improper .. company/operator management
Oxygen system .. not understood .. company maintenance personnel
Lack of familiarity with aircraft .. company maintenance personnel"

Sources:
» Aviation Letter 238
» ICAO Adrep Summary 5/88 (#52)
» NTSB/AAR-87/03/SUM