Narrative:
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"
Damaged on the ground
» ICAO Adrep Summary 5/88 (#52)
» NTSB/AAR-87/03/SUM
accident date: 10-08-1986
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40
registration: N184AT
accident date: 10-08-1986
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40
registration: N184AT
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 10 August 1986 |
| Time: | 07:15 |
| Type: |  McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 |
| Operator: | American Trans Air |
| Registration: | N184AT |
| MSN: | 46751/36 |
| First flight: | 1973 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 29155 |
| Engines: | 3 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-20 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Standing (STD) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), United States of America |
| Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD/KORD), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 131 |
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:
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"
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Cargo fire/smokeDamaged on the ground
Sources:
» Aviation Letter 238» ICAO Adrep Summary 5/88 (#52)
» NTSB/AAR-87/03/SUM
Photos
accident date: 10-08-1986
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40
registration: N184AT
accident date: 10-08-1986
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40
registration: N184AT
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 Los Angeles International Airport, CA to Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL as the crow flies is 2784 km (1740 miles).
Distance from Los Angeles International Airport, CA to Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL as the crow flies is 2784 km (1740 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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