Date:	Sunday 3 October 1993
Time:	15:55
Type:	McDonnell Douglas DC-9-83 (MD-83)
Owner/operator:	BWIA International
Registration:	9Y-THR
MSN:	49568/1380
Year of manufacture:	1987
Total airframe hrs:	14657 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 82
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial, repaired
Category:	Accident
Location:	near Miami, FL -   United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA)
Destination airport:	Bridgetown-Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI/TBPB)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
BWIA flight 431 experienced an explosion in the forward galley during climb to cruise altitude. The airplane was substantially damaged, 1 flight attendant received serious injuries and 1 flight attendant received minor injuries. The flight had originated from Miami, FL, about 15:25 and landed back at there around 16,25 the same day.
Examination of the airplane revealed that a water heater, Nordskog model, had over pressurized and exploded. The entire forward galley and the cabin wall to the cockpit was destroyed.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the water heater relay and the overpressure relief valve to operate properly. In addition, the design of the relief valve was inadequate in that it allowed the O-ring to migrate from its normal position preventing the valve from opening."

Air Safety Week 13 December 1993 (p. 10)
Air Safety Week nr.40-1993
Aviation Week & Space Technology 18 October 1993 (40)

Other occurrences involving this aircraft


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Date/time	Contributor	Updates